Nr 283Final Exam Study Guide2023|2024 Questions & Answers |verified & graded A+

• Clinical Manifestations for alterations in arousal o Changes in LOC is the most critical piece on information we have o LOC: are early changes, first thing you will see when something goes wrong neurologically o Pattern of breathing: assess the rate, rhythm and pattern; can have changes in any of those. Respiratory rate can be low or labored. Could have Cheyne stroke respirations o Pupillary Changes: biggest thing to look for fixed and dilated pupils. (Pupils are wide and don’t move). This is not good, its sign of brain hypoxia or ischemia. o Oculomotor Responses: just looking for changes and or things your not supposed to have. ▪ Resting, spontaneous, reflexive eye movements o Motor Responses: Can help evaluate level of dysfunction and damaged side ( just looking for changes or things that shouldn’t be there) ▪ Purposeful, inappropriate, or not present o Consciousness: state of awareness of oneself and the environment ▪ Arousal: state of being awake and being able to respond ▪ Awareness: state of being aware ▪ These are all mediated by the RAS, in brainstem ▪ If you get damage to cerebrum then the RAS will maintain you in a vegetative state- will keep you alive if something happens severely to your brain tissue. o Structural: could be due to a tumor, bleeding in the brain o Metabolic: anything that effects the metabolism like hypoxia, electrolyte changes, medications or drugs o Psychogenic: patients with psychiatric diseases like schizophrenia o Outcomes: Long-term disabilities, or patients could die.