In a client diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, which symptom should the nurse monitor for increased intracranial pressure?

In a patient with bacterial meningitis, altered mental status is a critical symptom to monitor for increased intracranial pressure (ICP). This is because bacterial meningitis can lead to inflammation and swelling in the brain, which may compromise normal neurological function and manifest as confusion, drowsiness, or other changes in consciousness. Altered mental status indicates that the brain's normal pathways are being disrupted, potentially due to increasing pressure within the cranial cavity.

While fever, nausea, and severe headache are also common symptoms of meningitis, they do not specifically serve as indicators of increased ICP. Fever is a systemic response to infection, nausea can occur due to various reasons and is not exclusive to increased pressure, and while severe headache can be related to increased ICP, it is not as definitive a symptom of altered brain function as changes in mental status. Monitoring for signs of altered mental status is crucial in managing and assessing the progression of the disease, as it offers direct insight into the patient's neurological status and potential complications from increased intracranial pressure.