Acute Care Nursing UPDATED Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers

1. When vasoactive medications are administered, the nurse must monitor vital signs at least how often? 15 min When vasoactive medications are administered, the nurse must monitor vitals frequently (at least every 15 minutes until stable, or more often is indicated). 2. A patient arrives at the ED via ambulance following a motor cycle accident. The paramedics state the patient was found unconscious at the scene of the accident, but briefly regained consciousness during transport to the hospital. Upon initial assessment, the patient's GCS score is 7. The nurse anticipates which of the following? immediate craniotomy. The patient is experiencing an epidural hematoma. An epidural hematoma is considered an extreme emergency; marked neurologic deficit or even respiratory arrest can occur within minutes. Treatment consists of making openings through the skull (burr holes) to decrease ICP emergently, remove the clot, and control the bleeding. A craniotomy may be required to remove the clot and control the bleeding. Epidural hematomas are often characterized by a brief loss of consciousness followed by a lucid interval in which the patient is awake and conversant. During this lucid interval, compensation for the expanding hematoma takes place by rapid absorption of CSF and decreased intravascular volume, both of which help to maintain the ICP within normal limits. When these mechanisms can no longer compensate, even a small increase in the volume of the blood clot produces a marked elevation in ICP. The patient then becomes increasingly restless, agitated, and confused as the condition progresses to coma.