A 60-year-old patient was examined by the nurse for possible increased intracranial pressure, papilledema, and headache. There was no history of trauma and the vital signs showed BP of 120/70 mmHg, HR 90 bpm, Temp 98.9˚ F, Respirations 20 bpm. With the assessment findings, the nurse thinks the patient may have:

Explanation

• Assessment findings for a patient with a brain tumor include headache that becomes worse in the morning, including straining and stooping, vomiting, papilledema, seizures, changes in mental status, and altered vision. Other symptoms/deficits may be present that are associated with the location of the tumor in the brain  

• Incorrect: A patient with meningitis would have fever, headache, nuchal rigidity, Kernig's signs and Brudzinski's signs

• Incorect: There can be no skull fracture since there was no history of head trauma

• Incorrect: A patient with encephalitis would manifest headache, fever, vomiting, and meningeal signs due the inflammation of the brain caused by a virus

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