Seizing Simone — Seizures & Status Epilepticus
Protect, don't restrain — time the seizure
Simone stops mid-word, stiffens, and drops. What happens in the next five minutes depends entirely on whether the nurse protects her or panics.
Simone's seizure is managed by what you do NOT do: no restraints, nothing in the mouth. Turn her side-lying, protect her head, pad the rails, suction available, and time it. Beyond five minutes it is status epilepticus — benzodiazepines, then a loading anticonvulsant.
Read Seizing Simone's full story →The story arc
The setup
She ran out of her levetiracetam three days ago and has not slept.
The turn
She stiffens (tonic), then jerks rhythmically (clonic), teeth clenched, incontinent.
The crisis
At six minutes the jerking has not stopped and her SpO₂ falls to 84%.
The save
IV lorazepam stops the seizure, a loading dose of levetiracetam prevents recurrence, then oxygen, glucose check and a quiet postictal recovery.
NCLEX study section — Seizures & Status Epilepticus
What this chapter is testing: the recognition cues, the numbers and the priority action.
Study section: Neurological
Take this chapter into practice questions on the same topic.