A patient has arrived at the critical care unit with a head injury. On admission, the patient is talking and is a little drowsy but oriented

Question

Two hours later, the nurse discovers that the patient is talking at a rapid pace and keeps repeating his words. Which of the following examples best de-picts Benner's stages and appropriate critical-thinking processes in this situation? a. Advanced beginner—thinks that the pa-tient is trying to be funny
b. Competent—thinks that the patient is ex-periencing effects from cerebral edema
c. Novice—thinks that the patient is stressed and has had a surge of adrenaline
d. Proficient—thinks that the patient is wak-ing up from a coma

Answer 1

B
The competent nurse uses the information about head injury, change in mental status from talking and drowsy but oriented to talking at a rapid pace, and the potential for the patient to deteriorate to discern that the patient is experiencing cerebral edema or increased intracranial pressure.