Assessment of Mental Status Diagnostic Assessment
Computerized Tomography - With the aid of a computer, pictures are taken at many horizontal slices of the brain or spinal cord. The nurse must ascertain if the client is allergic to iodine. The client must be completely still for the procedure which takes 10 minutes or less.
Positron Emission Tomography / Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography. PET scanning provides information about the function of the brain.
Lumbar Puncture - (spinal tap) is the insertion of a needle into the subarachnoid space between the third and fourth lumbar vertebrae. Used to obtain pressure readings, obtain CSF, inject medium, inject medication, reduce increased ICP.