Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 91%
Simulated
Passage / Scenario
The nurse is monitoring a 7-year-old child post-surgical resection of a supratentorial (cerebral) brain tumor.Which vital sign finding indicates Cushing's triad?
Correct answer
C
Rationale
The correct answer is C: Bradycardia, high blood pressure, irregular respirations. Cushing's triad is a classic sign of increased intracranial pressure. Bradycardia occurs due to increased intracranial pressure affecting the brainstem, high blood pressure is a compensatory response to maintain cerebral perfusion, and irregular respirations indicate brainstem compression. Choices A, B, and D do not align with the classic presentation of Cushing's triad, making them incorrect.