Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 75%
Full-length
The nurse is caring for a 3-month-old girl with meningitis. She has a positive Kernig's sign. The nurse expects her to react to discomfort if she:
Correct answer
B
Rationale
Discomfort with ankle dorsiflexion is not expected with meningitis. Spinal flexion, flexing the neck or the hips with legs extended, causes discomfort if the meninges are irritated. Discomfort with wrist flexion is not expected with meningitis. Rotating the cervical spine may cause discomfort with meningitis, but pain with flexion is more indicative of meningeal irritation.