Question

Which nursing intervention is a priority when a patient who arrives in the ER awake and...

Which nursing intervention is a priority when a patient who arrives in the ER awake and conversant after a brief loss of consciousness following a head injury is now restless, agitated, and confused?

a. Administer lorazepam intravenously

b. Notify the primary care provider

c. Request a CT scan of the head

d. Prepare for endotracheal intubation

Homework Answers

Answer #1

Answer is option (c) Request a CT scan of the head

CT head should be done quickly to rule out epidural bleed.

Epidural bleed is an immediate emergency. It may cause marked neurological deficits or respiratory arrest within few minutes.

Epidural hematomas are characteristically presented by a brief loss of consciousness followed by a lucid interval. Patient will be awake and conversant during this period.

Intracranial pressure builds up and patient restless, agitated and confused and it leads to coma within no time.

These can be avoided if we pick up epidural bleed at the earliest and intervene with a craniotomy.

So in order to rule out epidural bleed, we should take head CT immediately.

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