The client with suspected meningitis is admitted to the unit.

You have just admitted a patient with bacterial meningitis to

The doctor is performing an assessment to determine
meningeal irritation and spinal nerve root inflammation. A
positive Kernig’s sign is charted if the nurse notes:
A. Dizziness when changing positions
B. Pain when the head is turned to the left side
C. Nuchal rigidity on flexion of the neck
D. Pain on flexion of the hip and knee
Rationale:
the medical-surgical unit. The patient complains of a severe
headache with photophobia and has a temperature of 102.60 F
orally. Which collaborative intervention must be accomplished
first?
A. Administer codeine 15 mg orally for the patient’s
headache.
B. Give furosemide (Lasix) 40 mg IV to decrease
intracranial pressure.
C. Give acetaminophen (Tylenol) 650 mg orally to
reduce the fever.
D. Infuse ceftriaxone (Rocephin) 2000 mg IV to treat the
infection.

Which of these patients in the neurologic ICU will be best to Rationale:

assign to an RN who has floated from the medical unit?

A. A 46-year-old patient who was admitted 48 hours ago

with bacterial meningitis and has an antibiotic dose
due
B. A 26-year-old patient with a basilar skull structure
who has clear drainage coming out of the nose
C. A 42-year-old patient admitted several hours ago with
a headache and diagnosed with a ruptured berry
aneurysm.
D. A 65-year-old patient with a astrocytoma who has just
returned to the unit after having a craniotomy
Rationale:
A client, age 22, is admitted with bacterial meningitis. Which
hospital room would be the best choice for this client?
A. A private room down the hall from the nurses’ station
B. An isolation room three doors from the nurses’ station
C. A two-bed room with a client who previously had
bacterial meningitis
D. A semiprivate room with a 32-year-old client who has
viral meningitis
Rationale:

A client is arousing from a coma and keeps saying, “Just stop

The mother brings a child to the health care clinic because of the pain.” The nurse responds based on the knowledge that
severe headache and vomiting. During the assessment of the the human body typically and automatically responds to pain
health care nurse, the temperature of the child is 40 degree first with attempts to:
Celsius, and the nurse notes the presence of nuchal rigidity.
The nurse is suspecting that the child might be suffering from A. Tolerate the pain
bacterial meningitis. The nurse continues to assess the child B. Decrease the perception of pain
for the presence of Kernig’s sign. Which finding would indicate C. Escape the source of pain
the presence of this sign? D. Divert attention from the source of pain

A. Inability of the child to extend the legs fully when lying Rationale:
supine
B. Pain when the chin is pulled down to the chest
C. Flexion of the hips when the neck is flexed from a
lying position
D. Calf pain when the foot is dorsiflexed

Rationale:
The nurse is assessing a child diagnosed with a brain tumor.
Which of the following signs and symptoms would the nurse
expect the child to demonstrate? Select all that apply.

A. Increased pulse
B. Lethargy
C. Increased appetite
D. Polydipsia
E. Head tilt
F. Vomiting

Rationale:

A 5-month-old infant is admitted to the ER with a temperature

of 6°F and irritability. The mother states that the child has been
listless for the past several hours and that he had a seizure on
the way to the hospital. A lumbar puncture confirms a
diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. The nurse should assess the
infant for:

A. Periorbital edema
B. Positive Babinski reflex
C. Negative scarf sign
D. Tenseness of the anterior fontanel

Rationale:

Which of the following would lead the nurse to suspect that a

child with meningitis has developed disseminated intravascular
coagulation?

A. Dyspnea on exertion
B. Cyanosis
C. Hemorrhagic skin rash
D. Edema

Rationale: