A nurse is collecting data from a client who fell at home and reported a brief loss of consciousness. Which of the following findings should the nurse immediately report to the charge nurse?
Edematous bruise on forehead
Client disoriented to place
Heart rate 110/min and regular
Small drops of clear fluid in left ear
The Correct Answer is D
The nurse should immediately report small drops of clear fluid in the left ear to the charge nurse. This finding could indicate a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, which can occur as a result of a head injury. A CSF leak can be a serious medical condition that requires immediate attention.
An edematous bruise on the forehead, client disorientation to place, and a heart rate of 110/min and regular are also important findings that the nurse should report to the charge nurse. However, these findings are not as urgent as the presence of small drops of clear fluid in the left ear.
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Correct Answer is C
Explanation
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.
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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