The nurse is observing a patient who is having a seizure that involves a blank stare, unresponsiveness to questions, and smacking of the lips. The seizure lasts less than a minute. The nurse categorizes the seizure as which of the following?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient is experiencing an absence seizure, characterized by a blank stare and unresponsiveness. The smacking of the lips is a common feature of absence seizures. The seizure is brief, lasting less than a minute, and does not involve convulsions or muscle rigidity, ruling out tonic-clonic and partial seizures. Status epilepticus is a medical emergency and involves continuous seizures lasting more than five minutes or multiple seizures without regaining consciousness between them.

The Nurse Is Observing a Patient Who Is Having a Seizure