Neurological Assessment and Management in the ICU Flashcards
6 cards from real Acute Care Nurse Practitioner practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Neurological Assessment and Management in the ICU flashcards as text
Which sedation scale is most validated for ICU use and includes assessment of agitation levels from +4 to -5?
Answer: RASS (Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale)
The RASS is the most validated ICU sedation scale ranging from +4 (combative) to -5 (unarousable).
Per PADIS guidelines, what is the target RASS for most mechanically ventilated ICU patients?
Answer: -1 to 0
PADIS guidelines recommend light sedation (RASS -1 to 0) as a target to improve outcomes including shorter ventilator days.
Which agent is the preferred sedative for mechanically ventilated ICU patients due to ease of titration and ability to reduce ventilator days?
Answer: Propofol
Propofol allows rapid titration and awakening, reducing ventilator days and ICU LOS compared to benzodiazepines.
Delirium in the ICU is BEST assessed using which validated tool?
Answer: Confusion Assessment Method for ICU (CAM-ICU)
CAM-ICU is the gold standard for delirium screening in ICU patients, including those who are intubated and cannot speak.
Which modifiable risk factor is MOST strongly associated with ICU delirium development?
Answer: Benzodiazepine use
Benzodiazepine use is the most strongly modifiable risk factor for ICU delirium, and reducing their use significantly decreases delirium rates.
An ACNP orders dexmedetomidine for a delirious, agitated ICU patient. Which side effect must be monitored closely?
Answer: Bradycardia and hypotension
Dexmedetomidine's alpha-2 agonism reduces sympathetic tone, causing bradycardia and hypotension as its primary adverse effects.