When documenting that a patient had an atonic seizure, what did the nurse most likely observe?

• A. Stiffening of the body followed by convulsive movements
• B. Sudden loss of muscle tone resulting in the patient collapsing or dropping to the ground
• C. Rhythmic jerking movements of the limbs and face
• D. Brief episodes of staring and unresponsiveness without loss of posture

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the term 'atonic seizure' by breaking down its components. 'Atonic' refers to a lack of muscle tone, meaning muscles suddenly lose their strength or tension.
2. Step 2: Recall that seizures can manifest in different ways, such as stiffening (tonic), jerking (clonic), or loss of muscle tone (atonic). Each type has distinct observable characteristics.
3. Step 3: Identify that an atonic seizure involves a sudden loss of muscle tone, which typically causes the patient to collapse or drop suddenly because their muscles cannot support their body.
4. Step 4: Compare the options given: stiffening and convulsions describe tonic or tonic-clonic seizures; rhythmic jerking describes clonic seizures; brief staring spells describe absence seizures; sudden loss of muscle tone matches atonic seizures.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the nurse most likely observed a sudden loss of muscle tone resulting in the patient collapsing or dropping to the ground when documenting an atonic seizure.