Meningitis
Structured condition card with NCLEX priority cues and nursing action focus.
Neurohigh priorityneeds review
Meningitis
Etiology / Pathophysiology
- Inflammation of meninges from bacterial, viral, or other infection.
- Meningeal inflammation can increase ICP and cause sepsis or neurologic injury.
Medications
| Class | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Antibiotics by class | Urgent therapy for suspected bacterial meningitis per protocol. |
Nursing actions
- Initiate indicated isolation precautions promptly.
- Assess fever, neck stiffness, photophobia, LOC, and rash.
- Reduce stimulation and monitor for increased ICP or seizures.
Complications
- Sepsis
- Seizures
- Hearing loss
- Increased ICP
NCLEX cues
- Fever, stiff neck, photophobia.
- Droplet precautions may be needed for suspected bacterial meningitis.
Memory hooks
- Meningitis equals protect others and protect the brain.
Labs / Diagnostics
- Trend assessment findings and ordered diagnostics; verify exact values with school source material.
Review notes
- Session-derived study seed. Verify against school materials, ATI/NCLEX review sources, current orders, and facility policy before relying on details.