The nurse is caring for a patient during a post-ictal period. The patient remembers smelling something like dead fish prior to the seizure. Which of the following responses by the nurse is best?
a. "Today is Friday; the hospital always cooks fish on Fridays."
b. "You were probably hallucinating; I will ask for an order for an antihallucinatory agent."
c. "The smell of dead fish might be your aura; you should call for help immediately if you smell it again."
d. "Most people see a flash of light before a seizure; if this occurs, you should get to safety immediately."
ANS: C
Some patients experience an aura or sensation that warns the patient that a seizure is about to occur. An aura may be a visual distortion, a noxious odor, or an unusual sound. Patients who experience an aura may have enough time to sit or lie down before the seizure starts, thereby minimizing the chance of injury. Treating the aura as a hallucination does not help the patient to get to safety.
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