Family members of a patient who has a traumatic brain injury ask ...

[ahriuashd]

Family members of a patient who has a traumatic brain injury ask the nurse about the purpose of the ventriculostomy system being used for intracranial pressure monitoring. Which response by the nurse is best?
 
  a. This type of monitoring system is com-plex and it is managed by skilled staff.
  b. The monitoring system helps show whether blood flow to the brain is ade-quate.
  c. The ventriculostomy monitoring system helps check for alterations in cerebral per-fusion pressure.
  d. This monitoring system has multiple ben-efits including facilitation of cerebrospinal fluid drainage.

Question 2

Several patients have been hospitalized for diagnosis of neurologic problems. Which patient will the nurse assess first?
 
  a. Patient with a transient ischemic attack (TIA) returning from carotid duplex studies
  b. Patient with a brain tumor who has just arrived on the unit after a cerebral angiogram
  c. Patient with a seizure disorder who has just completed an electroencephalogra m (EEG)
  d. Patient prepared for a lumbar puncture whose health care provider is waiting for assistance

[zoeyesther]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
Short and simple explanations should be given initially to patients and family members. The other explanations are either too complicated to be easily understood or may increase the family mem-bers' anxiety.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
Because cerebral angiograms require insertion of a catheter into the femoral artery, bleeding is a possible complication. The nurse will need to check the pulse, blood pressure, and the catheter insertion site in the groin as soon as the patient arrives. Carotid duplex studies and EEG are noninvasive. The nurse will need to assist with the lumbar puncture as soon as possible, but monitoring for hemorrhage after cerebral angiogram has a higher priority.