Assessing the noodle
This scale is used to assess a patient's level of consciousness.
The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS).
This acronym is used to quickly assess for signs of stroke, and please be specific.
What is FAST (Face, Arms, Speech, Time)?
This is one of the most commonly reported symptoms by cancer patients during treatment.
What is fatigue.
ICS
What is the Incident Command System
This is the most immediate nursing priority when a spinal cord injury is suspected.
What is spinal immobilization?
During and after a seizure, the nurse should assess this first to ensure patient safety.
What is the airway or respiratory status?
This is the time frame in which tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) must be administered after confirming an ischemic stroke.
What is 3.5-4 hours
This type of isolation may be required for patients receiving chemotherapy with severe neutropenia.
What is protective or reverse isolation?
The nurse’s first priority during a chemical disaster involving toxic gas exposure.
What is ensuring personal safety and using appropriate PPE?
Injury to the cervical spine at or above C4 can impair this critical function.
What is respiratory function (diaphragmatic control)?
This term describes involuntary flexion or extension posturing (2) that may indicate brainstem dysfunction.
What is decerebrate or decorticate posturing?
This is the name of the brief neurological event that resolves within 24 hours and is considered a warning sign of a possible future stroke.
What is a transient ischemic attack (TIA)?
This acronym is used to assess for early signs of oncologic emergencies and is also a useful teaching device for illness recognition.
What is CAUTION (Change in bowel/bladder, A sore that doesn’t heal, Unusual bleeding, Thickening or lump, Indigestion, Obvious change in wart/mole, Nagging cough)?
In disaster nursing, this type of triage tag is assigned to patients who need immediate life-saving interventions.
What is red tag?
This type of shock involves hemodynamic instability due to loss of sympathetic tone, while the other is a temporary loss of all reflexes and motor/sensory function below the injury.
What is neurogenic shock (hemodynamic) versus spinal shock (neurological)?
This vital sign change, along with bradycardia and irregular respirations, is part of Cushing’s triad indicating increased ICP.
What is hypertension (with a widening pulse pressure)?
This type of hemorrhagic stroke involves bleeding between the brain and the thin tissues covering the brain, often described as the "worst headache of my life."
What is a subarachnoid hemorrhage?
This is a common side effect of radiation that nurses should assess for, as it can impact nutrition and oral intake.
What is mucositis or xerostomia (dry mouth)?
This role within an emergency operations centre ensures nursing input is considered in planning and response decisions.
What is the nursing liaison or nursing officer?
This type of fixation involves hardware placed inside the body and generally has a lower risk of pin site infection, while the other is visible outside the body and allows for easier access for wound care.
What is internal fixation versus external fixation?
This value is calculated by subtracting ICP from MAP and must stay above 60 mmHg.
What is cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP)?
Craniotomy post-op care includes monitoring for this major electrolyte imbalance due to pituitary manipulation.
What is diabetes insipidus (sodium imbalance)?
Before administering chemotherapy, the nurse must verify this critical lab value to reduce the risk of life-threatening infection.
What is the absolute neutrophil count (ANC)?
During post-disaster recovery, nurses play a key role in this phase, which involves restoring health services and promoting long-term mental health resilience in affected populations.
What is the recovery and rehabilitation phase?
This secondary brain injury process, often seen hours to days after the initial trauma, results from cellular ischemia, excitotoxicity, and inflammation—and is a key target for nursing interventions aimed at minimizing further damage.
What is cerebral edema.
BONUS: Name two medical interventions to reduce cerebral edema?