A nurse is assessing a client who was admitted 24 hours ago with a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) following a fall. Based on the principles of prioritization, which of the following assessment findings represent an acute deterioration requiring the nurse to intervene immediately? Select all that apply.
- Core body temperature increasing to 102.6°F (39.2°C) over the last hourCevap
- Urine output totaling 950 mL of pale urine over the past two hoursCevap
- Right pupil measuring 7 mm and completely unresponsive to lightCevap
- DGlasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score remaining at 9 since the previous shift
- EClient exhibiting persistent retrograde amnesia regarding the events of the fall
Cevap
The findings requiring immediate intervention are the rapidly increasing core body temperature, the massive urine output (950 mL in 2 hours), and the newly fixed, dilated right pupil.
The correct findings represent acute, unexpected, and life-threatening complications of a traumatic brain injury. A rapidly increasing core temperature significantly raises cerebral metabolic demand and intracranial pressure. A massive urine output indicates the onset of central Diabetes Insipidus, which quickly leads to hypovolemic shock and decreased brain perfusion. A fixed and dilated pupil is an ominous sign of uncal herniation and brainstem compression. All three require immediate life-saving medical intervention.
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Anahtar Kavram
When establishing priorities for a client with a traumatic brain injury, the nurse must rapidly differentiate between stable, expected neurological deficits and dynamic, unexpected findings that indicate secondary brain injury, such as increased ICP, herniation, or central endocrine disruption.