An infant with a VP shunt for hydrocephalus presents with vomiting, high-pitched cry, bulging fontanel, and setting-sun eyes. The parent states the child has also been “sleepier than usual” over the past day. What is the priority nursing interpretation?

A patient with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis is started on a disease-modifying therapy. Which statement by the patient best demonstrates understanding of the treatment goal?

A patient with Parkinson’s disease taking carbidopa-levodopa reports the medication “wears off” before the next dose, with worsening rigidity and tremor 30 minutes prior to the scheduled time. What does the nurse recognize this as?

A patient with left-sided hemiparesis and expressive aphasia arrived at the ED 50 minutes ago. NIH Stroke Scale score is 14. Noncontrast CT shows no hemorrhage. Blood pressure is 195/110 mmHg. What should the nurse anticipate as the priority action before tPA administration?

A nurse is assessing a client 24 hours after a stroke. During lunch, the client eats only the food on the right side of the tray, leaves the left arm hanging off the wheelchair, and insists that nothing is wrong. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate?

A nurse is caring for a client admitted with an acute hemorrhagic stroke. Which assessment finding requires the highest priority nursing intervention?

A patient with a halo traction device reports a persistent, dull headache and states, “One of the pin sites feels a little loose when I touch it.” What is the nurse’s priority action?

Dr. Smith’s technician comes to the room and explains that the Long Evans rats had been inoculated with the test substance earlier today, and she invites you to enter the room.  You open the door and look in.  You see white rats.  You are confused and ask more questions.  The technician says that the PI (Dr. Smith) decided to change the direction of his research, and he decided to let Dr. I’mso Smart, who is not listed on his protocol, use his room to inoculate the white rats his son had used for a high school science fair project with a pathogen that a friend had developed in his basement.  The technician also reported that Dr. I’mso Smart had given away his rabbits to a group doing a nutrition study and that Dr. Smith had accidentally killed his Long Evans rats yesterday with an overdose of the pathogen mixture.  The technician thought that all rats were Long Evans rats.   Now, after reading the above scenario, list 6 problems that you now know to exist. Be as specific as possible with your answers.

What is the purpose of this item?  

You must answer both questions to receive full credit: What are these devices called? What is the primary purpose for using these items?