A nurse is providing care for a client who is at risk of cerebral aneurysm rupture. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the care plan?
Keep lights turned to medium level in the evening.
Maintain the head of the bed between 30 and 45°.
Administer hypotonic intravenous solutions.
Reposition the client every shift.
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A Reason:
Keeping lights turned to medium level in the evening is incorrect. This intervention is aimed at reducing environmental stimuli, which may be appropriate for some patients with neurological conditions to minimize sensory overload and promote rest. However, it is not a specific intervention for preventing cerebral aneurysm rupture.
Choice B Reason:
Maintaining the head of the bed between 30 and 45° is correct. Keeping the head of the bed elevated can help reduce intracranial pressure and decrease the risk of cerebral aneurysm rupture or rebleeding in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. This position promotes venous drainage from the brain and helps prevent increases in intracranial pressure.
Choice C Reason:
Administering hypotonic intravenous solutions is incorrect. Hypotonic intravenous solutions have a lower osmolarity than blood plasma and can lead to cerebral edema, which may exacerbate intracranial pressure and increase the risk of cerebral aneurysm rupture. Isotonic solutions, such as normal saline (0.9% NaCl) or lactated Ringer's solution, are typically preferred for fluid resuscitation and maintenance in patients at risk of cerebral aneurysm rupture.
Choice D Reason:
Reposition the client every shift is incorrect. Repositioning the client every shift helps prevent complications associated with immobility, such as pressure ulcers, pneumonia, and venous thromboembolism. While important for overall patient care, repositioning alone does not directly address the risk of cerebral aneurysm rupture.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
Respiratory alkalosis is incorrect. Tension pneumothorax typically leads to respiratory distress and hypoxemia rather than respiratory alkalosis. The respiratory alkalosis may occur initially due to hyperventilation in response to hypoxemia but would not be directly related to tracheal deviation.
Choice B Reason:
Increased venous return is incorrect. Tension pneumothorax actually leads to decreased venous return due to compression of the great vessels in the thorax, particularly the superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava. This compression results from the increased pressure within the thorax, which impedes blood flow back to the heart.
Choice C Reason:
Decreased cardiac output is incorrect. Tension pneumothorax can indeed lead to decreased cardiac output due to compression of the heart and the great vessels by the accumulating air in the pleural space. This compression decreases venous return and impairs cardiac function.
Choice D Reason:
Dilated ventricles is incorrect. As mentioned earlier, tension pneumothorax can lead to compression of the heart, including the ventricles. This compression can cause dilatation of the ventricles, particularly the right ventricle, due to increased afterload and decreased venous return.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
Depression is incorrect. While depression can contribute to headaches in some individuals, it is more commonly associated with migraine headaches rather than tension-type headaches or cluster headaches. People with depression may experience changes in neurotransmitter levels and alterations in pain perception, which can exacerbate migraines. However, tension-type headaches and cluster headaches are generally less strongly associated with depression as a precipitating factor compared to migraines.
Choice B Reason:
Smoking is incorrect. Smoking can be a trigger for headaches in some individuals, particularly migraines, due to the vasoconstrictive effects of nicotine and other compounds in tobacco smoke. However, smoking is not universally recognized as a common precipitating factor for tension-type headaches or cluster headaches. While individuals with cluster headaches may have higher rates of smoking compared to the general population, it is not a factor commonly shared with tension-type headaches.
Choice C Reason:
Poor posture is incorrect. Poor posture can contribute to muscle tension and cervical spine strain, which may trigger tension-type headaches. However, poor posture is not typically considered a precipitating factor specific to cluster headaches. While tension-type headaches may be exacerbated by poor posture, cluster headaches are characterized by severe, unilateral pain typically centered around the eye or temple, with associated autonomic symptoms such as tearing, nasal congestion, or ptosis.
Choice D Reason:
Stress is correct. Stress is a well-established precipitating factor for both tension-type headaches and cluster headaches. Stress can lead to muscle tension and contraction, which are common triggers for tension-type headaches. Additionally, stress can also contribute to the onset or worsening of cluster headaches, although the exact mechanisms underlying this association are not fully understood. Therefore, stress is a common precipitating factor for both tension-type headaches and cluster headaches.
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