A seven-year-old with a head injury is hospitalized after losing consciousness when he was hit in the head with a bat at baseball practice. The child was not wearing a helmet. The last set of vital signs showed heart rate 48, BP 148/74, respiratory rate 28 and irregular. The nurse suspects that these vital signs are:
A)A sign that this child has a spinal cord injury.
B)A sign of increased intracranial pressure.
C)Typical for a sleeping child at this age.
D)A sign that the child's condition is improving.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The irregular respiratory rate, increased blood pressure, and decreased heart rate are all indicative of increased intracranial pressure, which can occur as a result of a head injury. This is a concerning set of vital signs and warrants close monitoring and possible intervention to decrease intracranial pressure.

A Seven-Year-Old with a Head Injury Is Hospitalized After Losing