A nurse is caring for a client who has a spinal cord injury. The nurse suspects that the client has autonomic dysreflexia. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
Raise the head of the bed.
Check the client for a fecal impaction.
Check the client's bladder for distention.
Ensure the room temperature is warm.
The Correct Answer is A
If a nurse is caring for a client who has a spinal cord injury and suspects that the client has autonomic dysreflexia, the first action the nurse should take is to raise the head of the bed. This can help to lower the client's blood pressure and reduce the risk of complications such as stroke.
b. Checking the client for a fecal impaction is an important step in identifying and treating the underlying cause of autonomic dysreflexia, but it is not the first action the nurse should take.
c. Checking the client's bladder for distention is an important step in identifying and treating the underlying cause of autonomic dysreflexia, but it is not the first action the nurse should take.
d. Ensuring that the room temperature is warm is not a priority intervention for a client who has autonomic dysreflexia.
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Correct Answer is D
Explanation
The nurse should place a pillow under the client's head if the client is on the floor in the clonic phase of a tonic-clonic seizure. This can help protect the client's head from injury during the seizure.
Inserting a padded tongue blade into the client's mouth, keeping the client in a supine position, and gently restraining the client's extremities are not appropriate interventions for the nurse to take in this situation. Inserting a padded tongue blade into the client's mouth can cause injury to the teeth and gums. Keeping the client in a supine position can increase the risk of aspiration. Gently restraining the client's extremities can cause injury and is not recommended during a seizure.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
When contributing to the plan of care for a client who is postoperative following a total hip arthroplasty, the nurse should include information on preventing hip flexion of the affected extremity. This can help prevent dislocation of the new hip joint and promote healing.
a. Positioning the lower extremities so that they are touching is not necessary for a client who is postoperative following a total hip arthroplasty. The position of the lower extremities should be determined by the surgeon's instructions and the client's comfort.
b. Ensuring that the client's heels are touching the bed is not necessary for a client who is postoperative following a total hip arthroplasty. The position of the heels should be determined by the surgeon's instructions and the client's comfort.
d. Instructing the client to avoid movement of the affected leg is not necessary for a client who is postoperative following a total hip arthroplasty. The client will need to begin moving and exercising the affected leg as part of their rehabilitation and recovery.
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