Seizure Disorders and Epilepsy Management Flashcards

A patient begins having generalized tonic-clonic seizure activity. The nurse's FIRST priority action is to:

Answer: Protect the patient from injury and maintain airway patency

The first priority during a seizure is patient safety — protecting from injury and maintaining airway patency without restraining limb movements.

Status epilepticus is defined as continuous seizure activity lasting longer than:

Answer: 5 minutes

Status epilepticus is defined as seizure activity lasting ≥5 minutes or two or more seizures without return to baseline consciousness between them.

Which first-line medication is recommended for initial treatment of status epilepticus in adults?

Answer: Benzodiazepine (lorazepam or diazepam)

Benzodiazepines (IV lorazepam preferred, or IM midazolam) are the first-line agents for terminating status epilepticus.

A patient on phenytoin therapy has a level of 8 mcg/mL. The therapeutic range for phenytoin is:

Answer: 10–20 mcg/mL

The therapeutic serum level for phenytoin is 10–20 mcg/mL; a level of 8 mcg/mL is subtherapeutic.

Which seizure type is characterized by sudden loss of muscle tone, causing the patient to fall?

Answer: Atonic (drop) seizure

Atonic seizures (drop attacks) involve sudden loss of muscle tone leading to falls, often requiring protective headgear.

The nurse observes a patient staring blankly for 15 seconds with lip-smacking and hand automatisms, then returning to baseline confused. This describes:

Answer: Focal impaired awareness seizure (complex partial)

Focal impaired awareness seizures (formerly complex partial) involve altered consciousness with automatisms and postictal confusion, arising from one hemisphere.