A nurse is caring for a client who has a spinal cord injury.

Nurses' Notes 0600:

Adventitious lung sounds auscultated in lower lobes bilaterally. Spirometry encouraged. Cough productive for clear sputum.

1000:

Cough productive for clear sputum following incentive spirometry and coughing exercises. Face and neck flushed. Client reports headache.

Abdomen distended. Last bowel movement was 2 days ago with hard stool. Provider Prescriptions

Nifedipine 30 mg PO for blood pressure greater than 150/100 mm Hg and notify provider Acetaminophen 650 mg PO q4 hr PRN pain

For each potential nursing action, click to specify if the action is anticipated or contraindicated for the client.

Based on the client's sudden right-sided numbness, weakness of the arm and leg, and distinct right-sided facial droop, the nurse should suspect a possible stroke and prioritize immediate interventions. After reporting the findings to the healthcare provider and receiving prescriptions, the nurse should implement the following intervention:

Notify the stroke team to assist with acute assessment and management. A stroke is a medical emergency that requires urgent intervention and specialized care. The stroke team is trained to quickly assess and manage stroke patients, including performing necessary diagnostic tests and initiating appropriate treatment. In this case, a STAT computerized tomography (CT) scan of the head has been ordered, indicating the need to evaluate the client's brain for possible ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke.

While keeping the bed in the lowest position and initiating seizure and fall precautions may be important considerations for stroke patients, notifying the stroke team takes precedence as they are specifically trained to manage acute stroke cases.

Administering aspirin to prevent further clot formation and platelet clumping is not appropriate without further assessment and confirmation of the type of stroke.

Additionally, testing for a swallowing reflex and performing communication deficit assessments can be important components of the overall stroke management plan, but they should be carried out by the stroke team or as directed by the healthcare provider.

A. Urine culture: This will help identify the presence of any urinary tract infection (UTI) causing discomfort and burning during urination.
B. Ibuprofen 600 mg every 6 hr for mild to moderate pain: While ibuprofen can help with pain relief, it does not address the potential underlying urinary tract infection, so it's important to address the infection first.
C. Obtain provider prescription for phenazopyridine: Phenazopyridine is a urinary analgesic that can provide relief from the pain and discomfort associated with UTIs.
D. Vaginal culture: The client's symptoms are related to discomfort and burning upon urination, suggesting a urinary tract issue rather than a vaginal issue. Therefore, a vaginal culture may not be relevant in this context.
E. Obtain provider prescription for antibiotics: If a urinary tract infection is suspected based on the client's symptoms and urine culture results, antibiotics may be needed to treat the infection.