A critical care nurse is assessing a client who has a severe head injury. In response to painful stimuli, the client does not open their eyes, displays decerebrate posturing, and makes incomprehensible sounds. The nurse should assign the client which of the following Glasgow Coma Scale scores?
10
13
2
5
The Correct Answer is D
A) 10: A score of 10 on the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) indicates a moderate level of impairment in consciousness. This score typically includes a range of responses in eye opening, verbal, and motor responses. Given the client's specific symptoms, this score does not accurately reflect their condition.
B) 13: A GCS score of 13 indicates mild impairment. This score usually requires the ability to open eyes spontaneously, follow commands, and exhibit appropriate verbal responses. Since the client is not opening their eyes and only making incomprehensible sounds, this score is not applicable.
C) 2: A score of 2 on the GCS would imply a severely compromised response, but it would be misleading since the client exhibits decerebrate posturing, which is a significant motor response indicating a level of neurological function. Thus, this score does not adequately represent the client's status.
D) 5: This is the correct score. The GCS includes a score of 1 for no eye opening, 2 for incomprehensible sounds, and 2 for decerebrate posturing. Adding these together (1 for eye opening + 2 for verbal + 2 for motor) results in a total of 5. This score reflects the severe impairment of consciousness and indicates the need for urgent medical evaluation and intervention.
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Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A) NG tube: A nasogastric (NG) tube is not typically required for a client with a seizure
disorder unless there are specific feeding or medication administration needs post-seizure. It is not standard equipment for seizure management.
B) Wrist restraints: While restraints may be used in some situations to prevent injury, they are not routinely placed in a seizure patient's room and could increase the risk of harm during a seizure. It is generally best to ensure a safe environment without restraints.
C) Oral airway: Having an oral airway available in the client's room is essential for managing airway patency during or after a seizure. It can help to maintain an open airway, especially if the client becomes unresponsive or is at risk of aspiration.
D) Tongue blade: Using a tongue blade to hold the mouth open during a seizure is not recommended, as it can cause injury to the client or the nurse. It's a common myth that it should be used to prevent biting the tongue, but doing so can lead to more harm than good
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A) Blistering at the site: Blistering is typically associated with partial-thickness burns rather than full-thickness burns. Full-thickness burns destroy both the epidermis and dermis, which usually do not present with blisters.
B) Epithelialization at the site: Epithelialization is a healing process that occurs after the burn site begins to heal. Since this client has sustained major full-thickness burns only 12 hours ago, epithelialization is not expected at this early stage.
C) Edema at the site: Edema is expected in the early stages following a major burn injury due to the inflammatory response and fluid shift that occurs. This finding aligns with the body's response to trauma and is common within the first 24 hours after a burn.
D) Severe pain at the site: Full-thickness burns typically have less pain at the site compared to partial-thickness burns because the nerve endings in the skin are destroyed. While there may be pain in surrounding areas or in partial-thickness areas, the full-thickness burn itself is often painless.