How would the nurse explain "brain death" to a family member? Brain death is:
1. Damage to the brain so extensive that the brain is no longer functional and function cannot be restored by medical therapies
2. Brain tissue that is lacking blood supply so it cannot perform some of its normal functions
3. Electrical malfunction of brain tissue so that it does not control breathing properly
4. When one lobe of the brain is traumatized or bruised and is trying to repair itself
1
Rationale 1: The definition of brain death is the irreversible loss of brain function that includes the brainstem.
Rationale 2: Brain death is not just a decreased blood supply; other causes may be present to cause irreversible loss of function as well.
Rationale 3: Electrical control of effective breathing may be one issue, but it does not include the irreversible aspect of the damage present. Breathing can be controlled by other means if the brainstem is still functioning.
Rationale 4: Repair is not an option when the damage is irreversible.
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