A nurse is planning care for a client who is experiencing seizures secondary to meningitis. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care? (Select all that apply.)
Place a tongue blade at the bedside.
Dim the overhead lights.
Assist the client to ambulate every 4 hr.
Apply a warming blanket.
Have suction equipment at the bedside.
Correct Answer : B,E
A. Place a tongue blade at the bedside: Keeping a tongue blade at the bedside is not recommended because attempting to insert an object into the mouth during a seizure can cause injury to the teeth, gums, or airway. Instead, the focus should be on maintaining a safe environment and protecting the client from harm.
B. Dim the overhead lights: Meningitis can cause photophobia, or sensitivity to light, which can worsen discomfort and potentially trigger seizures. Dimming the lights helps reduce sensory stimulation and promotes comfort, decreasing the risk of further neurological agitation.
C. Assist the client to ambulate every 4 hr: Clients experiencing seizures should have activity restrictions to prevent falls and injuries. Ambulation should be supervised and only encouraged once the client is stable. Frequent rest is preferred to minimize exhaustion, which can contribute to seizure activity.
D. Apply a warming blanket: Meningitis can cause fever, but applying a warming blanket is not appropriate unless the client is experiencing hypothermia. Fever management typically involves antipyretics and cooling measures, such as tepid sponge baths or light clothing, rather than warming interventions.
E. Have suction equipment at the bedside: During a seizure, excessive secretions or impaired airway protection can lead to aspiration. Having suction equipment readily available allows for quick clearance of the airway once the seizure subsides, reducing the risk of respiratory complications.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Obtain bottles of warm, sterile 0.9% sodium chloride solution: Evisceration requires immediate coverage of the exposed organs with sterile, saline-moistened dressings to prevent drying and infection. Using warm saline helps maintain tissue viability and minimizes damage.
B. Apply a firm pressure dressing across the client's abdomen: A firm pressure dressing is inappropriate, as it could cause further damage to the eviscerated organs and increase intra-abdominal pressure, leading to ischemia or perforation.
C. Attempt to reinsert the protruding viscera: Reinserting the eviscerated organs is contraindicated due to the high risk of contamination, trauma, and further complications. The nurse should instead protect the organs with moist dressings and prepare the client for emergency surgery.
D. Place the client in left lateral recumbent position: The client should be placed in a low Fowler’s position with knees slightly flexed to reduce tension on the abdominal wound and prevent further protrusion of organs. A left lateral recumbent position does not provide the same benefit.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Prepare the client for surgery: Surgical intervention is required to repair the evisceration, but the immediate priority is to protect the exposed organs from contamination and desiccation by covering them with a sterile saline-moistened dressing.
B. Cover the protrusion with a dressing soaked in 0.9% sodium chloride: This is the priority action to prevent the exposed organs from drying out and reduce the risk of infection. Sterile saline keeps the tissue moist, which is essential for preserving organ viability until surgical repair can be performed.
C. Obtain the client's vital signs every 5 min until the provider arrives: Monitoring vital signs is important to assess for shock, but it is not the first priority. Protecting the exposed abdominal contents takes precedence before initiating continuous monitoring.
D. Raise the head of the bed to 20°: The client should be placed in a low Fowler’s position with knees slightly flexed to reduce abdominal tension, but the most immediate action is to cover the exposed organs with a sterile saline-moistened dressing.
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