Question

The nurse is administering an osmotic diuretic to a client with a traumatic brain injury. Which finding best indicates that the medication was effective?

A
Intracranial pressure reading of 14 mmHg Correct Answer (Blank)
B
Bilateral ovoid pupils that are slow to constrict
C
Clear bilateral lung sounds to posterior auscultation
D
250 mL clear, yellow urine output over four hours

Answer 1

The best indicator of an effective osmotic diuretic treatment for trauma-induced brain swelling is a reduction in intracranial pressure, represented by a reading of 14 mmHg.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse is administering an osmotic diuretic to a client with a traumatic brain injury. The osmotic diuretic, like mannitol, is administered to reduce brain swelling by promoting water loss via osmosis. The effectiveness of the medication in this context would best be indicated by a reduction in intracranial pressure (ICP), since the primary goal is to decrease the swelling in the brain. Therefore, an intracranial pressure reading of 14 mmHg (Option A) would be the finding that best indicates that the medication was effective. Osmotic diuretics do not directly affect pupil constriction or lung sounds, and while they do increase urine output, the primary concern in the case of traumatic brain injury is the reduction of ICP rather than urine volume.