Increased ICP
Structured condition card with NCLEX priority cues and nursing action focus.
Neurohigh priorityneeds review
Increased ICP
Also testable as: Intracranial pressure
Etiology / Pathophysiology
- Swelling, bleeding, tumor, infection, or blocked CSF flow increases pressure inside the skull.
- The skull cannot expand, so pressure reduces cerebral perfusion and can cause herniation.
Medications
| Class | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Diuretics | Mannitol or hypertonic therapy may be used to pull fluid from brain tissue. |
Nursing actions
- Assess level of consciousness, pupils, motor response, and vital sign trends.
- Keep head midline and elevate HOB as ordered to support venous drainage.
- Avoid clustering activities that sharply increase ICP.
Complications
- Herniation
- Seizures
- Respiratory arrest
- Permanent neurologic injury
NCLEX cues
- Change in LOC is often earliest.
- Cushing response is late.
- New unequal pupils are urgent.
Memory hooks
- LOC first, Cushing late.
Labs / Diagnostics
- Neuro checks
- CT/MRI
- ICP trends if monitored
- Serum osmolality when osmotic therapy is used
Review notes
- Session-derived study seed. Verify against school materials, ATI/NCLEX review sources, current orders, and facility policy before relying on details.