A patient, being treated for increased intracranial pressure from a traumatic brain injury, demonstrates an increase in pressure with minimal care activity
Which of the following should the nurse do to minimize the patient's increase in cerebral pressure? 1. group activities together to maximize completion of needed care tasks
2. space activities apart to permit the pressure to recover
3. keep the head of the bed at 10 degrees maximum
4. suction the patient for no greater than 30 seconds
2
Rationale: A simple activity can increase a patient with traumatic brain injury's intracranial pressure. Because of this, nursing activities should be spaced apart to allow recovery time for the patient. Activities should not be grouped together to maximize the completion of care tasks. The head of the bed should be elevated to 30 degrees to reduce intracranial pressure without compromising cerebral perfusion pressure. The patient should be suctioned for 10 seconds or less to reduce an increase in intracranial pressure caused by the suctioning.
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