A nurse is caring for a client who has a spinal cord injury at T-4. The nurse should recognize that the client is at risk for autonomic dysreflexia. Which of the following interventions should the nurse take to prevent autonomic dysreflexia?
Monitor for elevated blood pressure.
Provide analgesia for headaches.
Prevent bladder distention.
Elevate the client's head.
The Correct Answer is C
To prevent autonomic dysreflexia, the nurse should take the intervention of preventing bladder distention. Autonomic dysreflexia is a serious medical problem that can happen if a person has injured the spinal cord in their upper back¹. It makes their blood pressure dangerously high and can lead to a stroke, seizure, or cardiac arrest¹. One way to lower the chance of complications is to use the bathroom on a regular schedule and keep the bladder and bowels from becoming too full.
a. Monitoring for elevated blood pressure is important but not an intervention to prevent autonomic dysreflexia.
b. Providing analgesia for headaches is important but not an intervention to prevent autonomic dysreflexia.
d. Elevating the client's head is important but not an intervention to prevent autonomic dysreflexia.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
An appropriate conclusion based on this data is that the client opens his eyes when spoken to. A GCS score of 3 for eye opening indicates that the client opens his eyes in response to voice.
The client is not unconscious, as a GCS score of 3 for eye opening indicates that the client is able to open his eyes in response to voice. The client is not unable to make vocal sound, as a GCS score of 5 for best verbal response indicates that the client is able to make vocal sounds. The client may or may not be able to follow simple motor commands, as a GCS score of 5 for best motor response indicates that the client is able to localize pain.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A client who has chronic atrial fibrillation is at risk for an ischemic embolic stroke. An ischemic embolic stroke occurs when a blood clot that forms in one part of the body travels to the brain and blocks blood flow. Atrial fibrillation is a type of irregular heart rhythm that can cause blood to pool, thicken, and clot in the heart or arteries near it. Pieces of these clots can travel to the brain and cause an ischemic embolic stroke.
a. A client who has an arteriovenous malformation is not at risk for an ischemic embolic stroke.
b. A client who has thrombocytopenia is not at risk for an ischemic embolic stroke.
d. A client who has uncontrolled hypertension is at risk for a stroke but not specifically an ischemic embolic
stroke.
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