Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries

The nurse knows that all of the following statements about epidural and subdural hematomas are false except:

An unconscious patient with pinpoint pupils is most likely to exhibit which breathing pattern?

A patient admitted to the ED after a motor vehicle accident is found to have a basal skull fracture with middle meningeal artery damage. This patient is also at risk for injury to the:

One of the nurse’s major concerns in caring for a patient with a spinal cord injury is to maintain optimal respiratory function. Which development would not lead to hypoventilation in this patient?

A patient admitted to the ED with an injury to the left cerebral hemisphere may exhibit:

Which physiologic event precipitates most neurologic emergencies?

A 23-year-old man is brought to the ED after suddenly feeling ill while exercising with weights at a local health spa. While in the ED, he complains of a sudden, explosive headache. The nurse suspects:

When assessing the patient’s motor function, the nurse determines spinothalamic tract function by:

A man is brought to the ED by emergency medical service after involvement in a motor vehicle accident. He is suspected of having a spinal cord injury. Spinal X-rays confirm a lesion at the C5 to C6 level. The nurse anticipates that the patient has:

When planning discharge instructions for a patient with a cerebral concussion, the nurse should anticipate telling the patient that he can expect all neurologic symptoms to subside within: