CHAPTER 5 Nervous System^221
- Administer antibiotic intravenously, depending on organism:
- nafcillin sodium (penicillinase-resistant penicillin)
- penicillin G benzathine
- chloramphenicol
- metronidazole
- vancomycin
- Administer corticosteroids in divided doses to decrease inflammation:
- dexamethasone—taper dose down before stopping
- Administer anticonvulsants to reduce seizure risk; watch for drug interactions:
- phenytoin
- phenobarbital
- Administer osmotic diuretics to decrease cerebral edema:
- mannitol
NURSING DIAGNOSES
- Risk for disturbed thought process
- Risk for falls
NURSING INTERVENTION
- Assess the patient’s ability to think, reason, and remember.
- Assess the patient’s speech capabilities.
- Assess the patient’s movement and senses.
- Assess the patient’s cranial nerve function.
- Monitor vital signs.
- Monitor fluid intake and output.
- Monitor for signs of infection in post-operative patients.
- Monitor for side effects of medications.
- Explain to the patient:
- Need for continued antibiotic treatments.
- How to administer IV antibiotics at home, how to monitor IV access, and
when to call for problems. - Need for follow up CT scan or MRI imaging for monitoring.