Elevated intracranial pressure is a medical emergency. The earliest sign is altered consciousness, followed by Cushing's triad: widened pulse pressure, bradycardia, and irregular respirations. Key nursing actions are maintaining balanced oxygen and CO2 levels and elevating the head of bed 30 to 45 degrees to promote venous drainage.
Let's walk through some key NCLEX points to know for increased intracranial pressure. Now this is a medical emergency and we want to resolve this as soon as possible because it is an emergency. Now the NCLEX loves to test you on the common signs and symptoms that you'll see and then the nursing interventions that you'll do. So the earliest sign of increased ICP is a change in the level of consciousness. So watch for that on your nursing school exams and with your patients. Changes in level of consciousness is the earliest sign of increased intracranial pressure. Now another symptom sign symptom that the NCLEX loves to test you on is Cushing's triad. Now this is three things, widening pulse pressure, a decreased heart rate and irregular respirations. Those are Cushing's triad. Now some key nursing interventions to know for your exams in nursing school is that we want to keep the oxygen and CO2 levels balanced. We want to keep the head of the bed at 30 to 45 degrees.
