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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Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
The nurse should instruct the family to not let the client engage in strenuous activities for 1 week following a minor head injury. This can help prevent further injury and allow the client to rest and recover.
Applying heat to the area of swelling for the first 48 hr, repeatedly asking the client questions to check for orientation, and encouraging the client to sleep for the first 24 hr are not appropriate instructions for the nurse to include in this situation. Applying heat can increase swelling and inflammation. Repeatedly asking the client questions can be disorienting and confusing. Encouraging the client to sleep for the first 24 hr is not necessary and could interfere with monitoring the client's condition.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
If a client reports skin irritation around the upper edge of a lower-leg cast, the nurse should petal the edges of the cast. This involves applying adhesive strips or moleskin around the edges of the cast to smooth them out and prevent them from rubbing against the skin.
a. Suggesting that the client use a blunt object such as a comb to relieve the itch is not recommended as it can cause further irritation or damage to the skin.
c. Telling the client to apply lotion to the irritated skin is not recommended as it can cause further irritation or damage to the skin and may also damage the cast.
d. Bivalving the cast is not necessary for skin irritation around the upper edge of the cast. Bivalving involves cutting the cast in half to relieve pressure and is typically only done in cases of severe swelling or compartment syndrome.
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