The family of a client with a severe head injury states that they do not understand why the client is being put into a drug coma when brain damage may be present. What is the nurse's best response?

A. "These drugs prevent pain when positioning or suctioning is required."
B. "This medication is used to keep people cooperative and calm during painful treatments."
C. "This medication is used to decrease the activity of the brain so that additional damage does not occur."
D. "This medication will prevent seizures and reduce the need for monitoring intra-cranial pressure."


C
When intracranial pressure cannot be controlled by other means, clients may be placed in a bar-biturate coma to decrease cerebral metabolic demands, decrease formation of vasogenic edema, and produce a more uniform blood supply to the brain.

Nursing

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A patient has a morphine sulfate patient controlled analgesia (PCA) to control postoperative pain. When the nurse enters the room, the patient complains of pain. The nurse's first response is which of the following?

a. Stop the infusion. b. Call the physician or health care provider immediately. c. Ask the patient to describe the pain. d. Speak to the patient in a calming tone to reduce anxiety.

Nursing

A nurse is teaching a community group good sleep hygiene practices. Steps that individuals can take to improve their sleep include (Select all that apply)

a. allowing for one or two restful daytime naps per day. b. avoiding vigorous exercise within 3 hours of bedtime. c. establishing a regular bedtime routine associated with preparing for sleep. d. if you wake at night, work quietly in bed and avoid getting up. e. maintaining a regular sleep-wake pattern throughout the week.

Nursing

During the ophthalmoscopic exam, the examiner should instruct the patient to focus directly on the ophthalmoscope light

A) True B) False

Nursing

The nurse is assigned to the care of a 64-year-old patient diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. In formulating a teaching plan that encourages the patient to actively participate in management of the diabetes, which of the following should be the nurse's initial intervention?

A. Macroangiopathy does not occur in type 1 diabetes but rather in type 2 diabetics who have severe disease. B. Microangiopathy is specific to diabetes and most commonly affects the capillary membranes of the eyes, kidneys, and skin. C. Renal damage resulting from changes in large- and medium-sized blood vessels can be prevented by careful glucose control. D. Macroangiopathy causes slowed gastric emptying and the sexual impotency experienced by a majority of patients with diabetes.

Nursing