Podcast
Questions and Answers
Consciousness is best described as:
Consciousness is best described as:
- The regulation of vital physiological processes.
- The state of being aware of one's self and the environment. (correct)
- The ability to perform complex motor functions.
- The capacity to store and retrieve memories.
Sensory awareness, inner awareness, and sense of self are all applications relating to:
Sensory awareness, inner awareness, and sense of self are all applications relating to:
- Reflex arcs.
- Endocrine function.
- Consciousness. (correct)
- Homeostasis.
What two components does consciousness involve?
What two components does consciousness involve?
- Memory and language.
- Sensation and perception.
- Emotion and behavior.
- Arousal and content of thought. (correct)
Arousal is associated with:
Arousal is associated with:
The cerebral cortex contributes to consciousness through?
The cerebral cortex contributes to consciousness through?
What is the function of the ascending sensory tracts in relation to the reticular formation and cerebral cortex?
What is the function of the ascending sensory tracts in relation to the reticular formation and cerebral cortex?
Which statement accurately describes the role of the reticular activating system (RAS)?
Which statement accurately describes the role of the reticular activating system (RAS)?
What is the main function of the cerebral cortex?
What is the main function of the cerebral cortex?
A patient has difficulty understanding spoken language. Which area of the cerebral cortex is most likely affected?
A patient has difficulty understanding spoken language. Which area of the cerebral cortex is most likely affected?
Which lobe of the cerebral cortex is primarily responsible for processing sensory information such as touch, pain, and temperature?
Which lobe of the cerebral cortex is primarily responsible for processing sensory information such as touch, pain, and temperature?
A patient exhibits impaired decision-making and difficulty with emotional control after a traumatic brain injury. Which lobe is most likely affected?
A patient exhibits impaired decision-making and difficulty with emotional control after a traumatic brain injury. Which lobe is most likely affected?
Which of the following best describes the primary function of the occipital lobe?
Which of the following best describes the primary function of the occipital lobe?
Spatial awareness and the ability to navigate in three-dimensional space is primarily a function of which cerebral lobe?
Spatial awareness and the ability to navigate in three-dimensional space is primarily a function of which cerebral lobe?
Which cerebral lobe is most closely associated with the processing of auditory information?
Which cerebral lobe is most closely associated with the processing of auditory information?
A patient is having difficulty with their hearing and is unable to interpret sounds. Which area of the brain is likely affected?
A patient is having difficulty with their hearing and is unable to interpret sounds. Which area of the brain is likely affected?
If a person has impaired ability to recognize faces and objects, which area of their brain is MOST likely to be affected?
If a person has impaired ability to recognize faces and objects, which area of their brain is MOST likely to be affected?
Which area within the frontal lobe is primarily responsible for the coordination of muscle movement?
Which area within the frontal lobe is primarily responsible for the coordination of muscle movement?
A patient who has suffered a stroke is now experiencing difficulty producing speech, though they can understand language. Which area of the brain has likely been affected?
A patient who has suffered a stroke is now experiencing difficulty producing speech, though they can understand language. Which area of the brain has likely been affected?
Organizing information from sensory and motor areas, personality, controlling emotional behaviors, spatial awareness, and reasoning all describe:
Organizing information from sensory and motor areas, personality, controlling emotional behaviors, spatial awareness, and reasoning all describe:
What is the duration of a coma?
What is the duration of a coma?
Which statement best describes a coma?
Which statement best describes a coma?
A crude waking state maintained by the RAS when a person loses Cerebral function describes:
A crude waking state maintained by the RAS when a person loses Cerebral function describes:
A patient is conscious and can think and reason, but is unable to speak or move any part of their body except for their eyes. What condition is the patient most likely experiencing?
A patient is conscious and can think and reason, but is unable to speak or move any part of their body except for their eyes. What condition is the patient most likely experiencing?
In what condition is there intact LOC & sensorimotor capacity, but with a simultaneous decrease in goal-directed behavior & emotions?
In what condition is there intact LOC & sensorimotor capacity, but with a simultaneous decrease in goal-directed behavior & emotions?
Which of the following is a structural cause of altered arousal?
Which of the following is a structural cause of altered arousal?
The following are metabolic causes that lead to Alterations in Arousal:
The following are metabolic causes that lead to Alterations in Arousal:
A patient with an altered level of consciousness due to a metabolic cause is likely to exhibit which eye movement?
A patient with an altered level of consciousness due to a metabolic cause is likely to exhibit which eye movement?
A patient presents with asymmetric pupils with a midposition that are nonreactive, what should you suspect?
A patient presents with asymmetric pupils with a midposition that are nonreactive, what should you suspect?
A patient in altered level of consciousness shows symmetric corneal reflex, Grimace to pain CN VII, motor, and tone. Which condition should you suspect?
A patient in altered level of consciousness shows symmetric corneal reflex, Grimace to pain CN VII, motor, and tone. Which condition should you suspect?
Flat optic discs with good pulsations are typical in:
Flat optic discs with good pulsations are typical in:
Decorticate or decerebrate posture is most likely indicative of:
Decorticate or decerebrate posture is most likely indicative of:
While caring for an unconscious patient, what is the MOST important initial nursing intervention to maintain a patent airway?
While caring for an unconscious patient, what is the MOST important initial nursing intervention to maintain a patent airway?
What nursing intervention should be implemented to prevent corneal irritation in an unconscious patient?
What nursing intervention should be implemented to prevent corneal irritation in an unconscious patient?
An unconscious patient is at risk for complications of immobility. How often should the nurse reposition the patient to prevent pressure ulcers?
An unconscious patient is at risk for complications of immobility. How often should the nurse reposition the patient to prevent pressure ulcers?
An unconscious patient requires measures to prevent complications of immobility. Besides frequent turning, which intervention would help prevent foot drop?
An unconscious patient requires measures to prevent complications of immobility. Besides frequent turning, which intervention would help prevent foot drop?
Which intervention is important for maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance in an unconscious patient?
Which intervention is important for maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance in an unconscious patient?
What is the rationale for providing regular mouth care to an unconscious patient?
What is the rationale for providing regular mouth care to an unconscious patient?
Which of the following interventions is MOST important for preventing injury in an unconscious patient?
Which of the following interventions is MOST important for preventing injury in an unconscious patient?
Why would a nurse speak softly to an unconscious patient?
Why would a nurse speak softly to an unconscious patient?
Flashcards
What is consciousness?
What is consciousness?
State of awareness including awareness of one's own mental activity and the environment.
Arousal (RAS)
Arousal (RAS)
Arousal refers to the state of awakeness primarily regulated by the reticular activating system (RAS).
Content of thought
Content of thought
Encompasses cognitive functions including awareness of self, environment, and affective states. Primarily regulated by the cerebral cortex.
Reticular Activating System (RAS)
Reticular Activating System (RAS)
Signup and view all the flashcards
Cerebral Cortex
Cerebral Cortex
Signup and view all the flashcards
Frontal Lobe functions
Frontal Lobe functions
Signup and view all the flashcards
Occipital Lobe functions
Occipital Lobe functions
Signup and view all the flashcards
Parietal Lobe functions
Parietal Lobe functions
Signup and view all the flashcards
Temporal Lobe functions
Temporal Lobe functions
Signup and view all the flashcards
Sensory Areas
Sensory Areas
Signup and view all the flashcards
Motor Areas
Motor Areas
Signup and view all the flashcards
Association Areas
Association Areas
Signup and view all the flashcards
Coma
Coma
Signup and view all the flashcards
Persistent Vegetative State
Persistent Vegetative State
Signup and view all the flashcards
Locked-in Syndrome
Locked-in Syndrome
Signup and view all the flashcards
Akinetic Mutism
Akinetic Mutism
Signup and view all the flashcards
Causes of Alterations in Arousal
Causes of Alterations in Arousal
Signup and view all the flashcards
Papilledema
Papilledema
Signup and view all the flashcards
Unconscious Airway
Unconscious Airway
Signup and view all the flashcards
Supportive measures for Fluid and Electrolyte Balance
Supportive measures for Fluid and Electrolyte Balance
Signup and view all the flashcards
Study Notes
- Consciousness is a state of awareness of self and environment
- Definiton of consciousness is the awareness to one's own mental activity as well as the surrounding environment
- Consciousness has these 3 applications:
- Sensory Awareness
- Inner Awareness
- Sense of Self
- Consciousness involves two things:
- Arousal (RAS) as a state of awakeness
- Content of thought (cerebral cortex) which encompasses all cognitive functions including awareness self, environment and affective states
- The Reticular Activating System (RAS) is a network of neurons in the brain stem
- RAS projects anteriorly to the hypothalamus for mediating behavior
- RAS also projects posteriorly to the thalamus
- RAS also projects directly to the cortex for activation of awake, desynchronized cortical EEG patterns
- The network of RAS is scattered through the brainstem
- It connects the brainstem, cerebellum, and cerebrum with ascending and descending tracts
- Sensory information reaching the r.f., activates or arouses the cerebral cortex
- RAS controls sleeping, waking, and attention
- RAS also acts a sophistical filter, screening out the junk
- RAS acts like an Executive Assistant
- RAS allows focus on what is valued
- RAS allows one to perceive a threat
- RAS supports when goals are set
- Ascending sensory tracts send axon collateral fibers, to the reticular formation.
- The ascending sensory tracts give rise to fibers synapsing in the nonspecific Nuclei of the thalamus
- Those projections influence widespread areas of cerebral cortex & limbic system
Cerebral Cortex
- The cerebral cortex is known to be the gray matter (4-8mm)
- It is the brain's outermost layer of nerve cell tissue
- The cerebral cortex has a wrinkled appearance from its many folds & grooves
- It plays a key role in memory, thinking, learning, reasoning, problem-solving, emotions, consciousness & functions related to senses
Cerebral Cortex Lobes
- Frontal Lobe
- Includes decision-making, problem-solving and conscious thought
- Involved in attention, emotional and behavioral control
- Deals with speech production, personality, intelligence and body movement.
- Occipital Lobe
- Engaged in visual processing & interpretation
- Collects visual data regarding color, motion & orientation.
- Is responsible for object & facial recognition
- Deals with depth & distance perception, and visual world mapping
- Parietal Lobe
- Processes sensory information like touch, pressure, pain, position, vibration, and temperature
- Deals with spatial processing & spatial manipulation which is the ability to understand where you are in three-dimensional space, such as how to navigate around your home or town.
- Temporal Lobe
- Helps with language comprehension, speech formation, and learning
- Deals with memory and hearing
- Involved in nonverbal interpretation and sound-to-visual image conversion.
Brain Areas
- Sensory areas receive sensory information from the senses & environment
- Making sense of visual information & object recognition happens in visual cortex
- Assessing touch, temperature, position, vibration, pressure & pain occurs in somatosensory cortex
- Processing taste and flavor happens in gustatory cortex
- Processing hearing information occurs in the auditory cortex
- Motor areas are involved in voluntary muscle movement, and are processed mainly by frontal lobe
- Coordination of muscle movement
- Planning of complex movements
- Learning through imitation & empathy
- Association areas exist and area spread throughout all 4 lobes & connect adding complexity to function
- They help with organizing & giving meaning to information from sensory & motor areas
- They play a role in spatial awareness & reasoning, memory processing, and building visual information with memories, sound & language
- Help Think in a visual manner & retain visual memories
- Involved with personality control and emotional behaviors
Coma
- Coma is defined as the total absence of awareness usually lasting 2 - 4 weeks
Persistent Vegetative State
- Defined as Crude waking state maintained by the RAS when a person loses Cerebral function
- Replacement of coma can happen after 2-4 weeks
- Sleep-wake cycles devoid of cognitive or Affective mental function
Locked-in Syndrome
- Syndrome with complete paralysis of voluntary muscles in all parts of the body except for those that control eye movement
- Someone with this can be conscious and can think, can reason but is unable to speak or move
Akinetic Mutism
- Defined as having an intact LOC with sensorimotor capacity, with a simultaneous decrease in goal-directed behavior & emotions
- Characterized as a wakeful state of profound apathy appearing indifferent to pain, thirst, or hunger.
Alterations in Arousal
- Can be caused by Structure issues:
- Infection or Vascular causes
- Neoplasm or Trauma
- Congenital or Degenerative
- Can be caused by Metabolic issues:
- Hypoxia or Electrolyte imbalance
- Hypoglycemia
- Caused also by Psychiatric problems
Metabolic vs Structural Issues
- For Metabolic issues:
- Blink normally is equal
- Optic discs have flat, good pulsation
- With EOM (CN III, IV, VI) have roving eye movements, normal doll's eye, calorics
- With Pupils CN II, III have equal, reactive, dilated (atropine); pinpoint (opiates); midposition/fixed (glutethimide)
- Corneal reflex is symmetric
- Motor is symmetric
- Tone is symmetric
- Posture is symmetric
- DTR is symmetric
- Babinski is Symmetric/absent
- Sensation is symmetric
- For Structural issues:
- Blink normally is asymmetrical
- Optic discs have papilledema
- With EOM (CN III, IV, VI) have gaze paresis, nerve palsy
- With Pupils CN II, III have asymetric, nonreactive; midposition (midbrain), or pinpont (pons)
- Corneal reflex is asymmetric
- Motor is asymmetric
- Tone is spastic and/or flaccid
- Posture is Decorticate Decerebrate
- DTR is Asymmetric
- Babinski is present
- Sensation is asymmetric
CARE OF THE UNCONSCIOUS
- AIRWAY: maintain patency
- Accomplished with Side lying position
- Provide an oral airway if tongue obstructs
- Prepare ET insertion and Suction PRN
- Check RR, depth q 1-2h
- Auscultate BS for crackles, rhonchi
- Check VS & Neuro
- Fluid & Electrolyte Balance /Nutrition: with
- IVF, NGT feeding as ordered
- Check I & O
- Check hydration status: skin turgor, mucous membranes
- Provide mouth care to keep mouth moist, clean & intact
- SAFETY
- Keep side rails up
- Maintain Sz precaution
- Avoid restraints
- Touch gently and Speak softly
- Protect eyes from corneal irritation: instill artficial tears as ordered, eye patch
- PREVENT COMPLICATIONS OF IMMOBILITY by
- Keeping skin clean, dry, pressure free and turn q 2h
- Performing ROM q 4h
- Prevent deformities: footboard, splint to prevent wrist drop, high topped tennis shoes
- BOWEL/BLADDER ELIMINATION: with
- Indwelling catheter
- Stool softeners as ordered
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
