Following morning care, a client with a C-5 spinal cord injury who is sitting in a wheelchair becomes flushed and complains of a headache. Which intervention should the nurse implementfirst?

The correct answer/s is Choice/s A, C, and E.

Choice A rationale: Obtaining the client’s tympanic temperature measurement is a crucial step. The client’s confusion and disorientation could be symptoms of an infection, such as a urinary tract infection or pneumonia. Infections in older adults can often present with atypical symptoms, including changes in mental status. Therefore, checking the client’s temperature can help identify if the client has a fever, which is a common sign of an infection.

Choice B rationale: While it’s always important to be aware of a client’s allergies, especially when administering medications, it doesn’t directly address the immediate concern of the client’s altered mental status. Therefore, it’s not the most appropriate action to take in response to the situation described.

Choice C rationale: Asking if the client is experiencing any pain with urination is relevant because urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in older adults and can cause confusion and other changes in mental status. Pain during urination is a common symptom of a UTI.

Choice D rationale: Encouraging the intake of high protein foods is generally a good recommendation for older adults to maintain their strength and energy levels. However, it’s not directly related to the client’s current symptoms of confusion and disorientation.

Choice E rationale: Determining if the client has recently experienced a fall is important. Falls in older adults can lead to injuries, such as a head injury, which can cause confusion and other changes in mental status. Additionally, some medications used to treat pain after a fall can also contribute to confusion.

The correct answer is: C. Experiences facial swelling after eating crab.

Choice A Reason: Drinking a glass of water in the past 2 hours is not typically a concern unless the patient has been instructed to fast. For most cardiac catheterization procedures, patients are asked to fast for a certain period before the procedure to reduce the risk of aspiration. However, small sips of water may be allowed with medications.

Choice B Reason: While reports of left chest wall pain are clinically significant and warrant investigation, they are not as immediately concerning for the angioplasty procedure itself. Chest pain is a symptom that may have led to the decision to perform angioplasty but does not pose an immediate risk of complication during the procedure as an allergy might.

Choice C Reason: As previously mentioned, experiencing facial swelling after eating crab is indicative of a shellfish allergy. This is important because the contrast dye used in angioplasty may contain iodine, and patients with shellfish allergies could have an increased risk of an allergic reaction to the iodine in the dye. It is essential to explore this further to take necessary precautions, such as premedication with antihistamines or using a different contrast agent.

Choice D Reason: Verbalizing a fear of being in a confined space, or claustrophobia, is a psychological concern that should be addressed to ensure the patient’s comfort during the procedure. However, it does not pose a direct risk to the safety of the angioplasty procedure like an allergic reaction does. Managing patient anxiety is important, but it is not the most critical factor to explore prior to the procedure.