MDC 4 Exam 1
Which Migraine medications cannot be used in a patient with cardiac diseases and
why? (Answer)- Triptans and Ergotamine preparations- they will cause additional
vasoconstriction of the head blood vessels
What does abortive therapy do for migraines? (Answer)- alleviate pain after the
headache starts
What does preventative therapy do for migraines? (Answer)- prevent a headache is
it occurs more than twice a week or is severe.
A patient is taking beta blocker and calcium channel blockers to prevent a
migraine. What education should the nurse give to the patient regarding these
medications? (Answer)- Do not stop the medications
What are some trigger foods for migraines? (Answer)- aged cheeses, smoked
meats, fermented deli meats, pickles, beer, wine, nuts (think tyramine)
A patient is trying to see what things trigger their migraines. What education can
the nurse provide? (Answer)- Keep a food diary and determine what foods may
make the migraine occur.
A patient tells the nurse that they see flashing lights before their headache starts.
What is this called? (Answer)- Aura
A aura may happen with and _. (Answer)- Migraines, Seizures
S/S of Migraines (Answer)- Photophobia, N,V,head pain, phonophobia
A patient tells their spouse who is a nurse they are having a migraine. What would
the nurse tell them to do? (Answer)- Go into a cool dark room and rest while
sitting up.
A nurse is setting up a room for a patient coming in for a seizure. What things
should be included in the room? (Answer)- Working suction and o2, padded bed
side rails, placement of an IV when patient arrives.
What should you never place in a patients mouth when they are having a seizure?
(Answer)- Tongue blade
What is the term for a seizure lasting more than 5 minutes or having multiples in a
30 min period? (Answer)- Status Epilepticus
What can you give to stop a seizure? (Answer)- IV benzo
A patient states to the nurse before leaving the doctors office his provider will
place him on phenytoin. What education should the nurse give? (Answer)- Do not
stop the medication- if so a seizure may occur.
A patient with a seizure disorder suddenly freezes up and drops without twitching.
What type of seizure is this called? (Answer)- Tonic
A patient with a seizure disorder suddenly freezes up for a few seconds and starts
to vigorously twitch. What type of seizure is the patient having? (Answer)- Tonic
Clonic
A person starts to have brief twitches of their left arm while in line to check out at
the store. What type of seizure is this? (Answer)- Myoclonic
A patient suddenly looses muscle tone and drops to the floor. What type of seizure
is this? (Answer)- Atonic
A nurse starts to see the patient in a room starting to have a seizure. What is her
next move? (Answer)- Place patient on left side, lower bed, support head, no
restraining them, timing the episode and calling for help.
After a seizure is done, what actions should the nurse take? (Answer)- Assess
vitals, reorient patient, clean them up if they peed or pooped, call provider.
A teen with a seizure disorder is cleared by the provider to take his drivers license
test. What must her report to the DMV? (Answer)- That he has a seizure disorder
A female patient was recently diagnosed with a seizure disorder and is taking a
oral contraceptive. What education must the nurse give? (Answer)- She should
switch off the pill as seizure prevention medications can cause the pill to not work.