A 7-year-old with a head injury is hospitalized after losing consciousness from being hit in the ...

2. A sign of increased intracranial pressure

Rationale:
These vital signs show increased blood pressure with a wide pulse pressure, slow heart rate, and respirations that are irregular, all indicating possible significant increased intracranial pressure. Normal heart rate for an awake child at this age is 70110. Normal blood pressure is 92126/5586. Normal respirations are 20 and regular. These vital signs are a sign of increased intracranial pressure. If it were a spinal cord injury, and neurogenic shock were suspected, the child would be hypotensive. Normal sleeping pulse at this age is 6090.