NUR 4445 Neurologic System

NUR 4445 Neurologic System

• What are seizures? What is epilepsy and what can cause it (8)?

Answer

• abnormal electrical discharge in the brain

• Epilepsy is a chronic condition.

• Causes

• CNS insult
• fever
• infection
• cardiac anomalies
• trauma
• hypoxia
• ingestion of toxic substances
• brain tumor

• How do you intervene when a child is having a seizure (4)?

Answer

• Nothing in the mouth!

• Possible jaw thrust for patent airway
• Place on side (number one priority is airway so move them to prevent aspiration)
• suction, O2, ventilate prn

• What do we do if a seizure doesn't spontaneously resolve (2)? What safety measures do we

implement and what do we monitor?

Answer

• cardiac monitor

• IV/ IM meds (benzo, diazepam (valium) or lorazepam (ativan)(available in suppos- itory).
• Safe environment with padded rails on bed/ keep side rails up 1 / 2

• Periodic drug serum levels to monitor.
• What safety measures should we teach parents of children with seizures

(6)?Answer

• Water safety

• helmet
• caution around fires
• fall risk/ precaution
• medical alert bracelet
• education on medication adherence.

• What is a partial (focal) seizure? What do S/S look like?

Answer

• Abnormal electrical impulse in one area of the brain

• Symptoms depend on where in the brain the activity occurs

• What is a simple partial seizure? What does it look like?

Answer

• single area of the brain with single muscle movement or sensory alteration.

• No LOC. (fade out then fade in)

• What is a complex partial seizure? What are the S/S (9)?

Answer

• psychomotor

• LOC occurs
• hallucinations (aura)
• mental distortions
• personality changes
• loss of social inhibition
• involuntary bladder/bowel
• chewing motions
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