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NCLEX Question of the Day
Review the question, check the correct answer, and read the rationale before tomorrow's prompt arrives.
A nurse is assessing a client with a possible basal skull fracture. Which sign would be a specific indication of this type of fracture?
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Correct answer Bilateral periorbital ecchymosis (raccoon eyes)
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Nuchal rigidity
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Epistaxis
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A constant, dull headache
Rationale
Raccoon eyes, or bilateral periorbital ecchymosis, are indicative of a basal skull fracture and result from blood seeping into the soft tissues around the eyes. This is a relatively specific sign of a basal skull fracture. While epistaxis, nuchal rigidity, and a dull headache may be found in clients with head injuries, they are not specific to basal skull fractures and can be related to other conditions.
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