An unconscious 39-year-old male patient is admitted to the ...

[jilianpiloj]

An unconscious 39-year-old male patient is admitted to the emergency department (ED) with a head injury. The patient's spouse and teenage children stay at the patient's side and ask many questions about the treatment being given.
 
  What action is best for the nurse to take?
  a. Ask the family to stay in the waiting room until the initial assessment is completed.
  b. Allow the family to stay with the patient and briefly explain all procedures to them.
  c. Refer the family members to the hospital counseling service to deal with their anxi-ety.
  d. Call the family's pastor or spiritual advisor to take them to the chapel while care is given.

Question 2

A 46-year-old patient with a head injury opens the eyes to verbal stimulation, curses when stimu-lated, and does not respond to a verbal command to move but attempts to push away a painful stimulus.
 
  The nurse records the patient's Glasgow Coma Scale score as
  a. 9.
  b. 11.
  c. 13.
  d. 15.

[chem1s3]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
The need for information about the diagnosis and care is very high in family members of acutely ill patients. The nurse should allow the family to observe care and explain the procedures unless they interfere with emergent care needs. A pastor or counseling service can offer some support, but research supports information as being more effective. Asking the family to stay in the wait-ing room will increase their anxiety.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
The patient has a score of 3 for eye opening, 3 for best verbal response, and 5 for best motor re-sponse.