In caring for a client following a head injury, the nurse plans to assess for rhinorrhea so that a sample can be tested for the presence of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). At which location should the nurse observe for this finding?

(Click the chosen location. To change, click on the new location.)

Rationale

A. Measuring vital signs, including respiratory rate, heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation, is important to assess the client's overall status and to determine the severity of the dyspnea. Vital signs provide essential information to guide further interventions. While important, this action may not directly alleviate the client's immediate distress from dyspnea.

B. Placing the client in a high Fowler's position (sitting upright with the head of the bed elevated to 90 degrees) helps to maximize chest expansion and improve lung ventilation. This position can relieve dyspnea by reducing pressure on the diaphragm and improving lung compliance. It is a simple and effective intervention for clients experiencing respiratory distress.

C. While deep breathing exercises are beneficial for promoting lung expansion and improving respiratory function, they may not be appropriate as the first action when the client is already dyspneic. The priority

should be to position the client to alleviate immediate breathing difficulty before initiating exercises that require active participation.

D. Auscultating breath sounds is important for assessing lung function and detecting any abnormalities such as adventitious sounds (e.g., crackles, wheezes). However, this action is secondary to placing the client in a high Fowler's position to relieve dyspnea. Auscultation can be performed after the client's breathing has stabilized.

Client Statement: A. The client seems unemotional when talking about needing to rebuild her house.

Suppression fits here because the client appears detached or unemotional when discussing the significant emotional task of rebuilding her house after it collapsed. This suggests a deliberate effort to suppress or minimize the emotional impact of the situation.

Client Statement: C. The client discusses moving to Hawaii instead of returning to rebuild her house.

The client's discussion of moving to Hawaii instead of facing the reality of rebuilding her house reflects a form of fantasy. It suggests a retreat into an idealized scenario (moving to a distant, idyllic location) to avoid dealing directly with the trauma and stress associated with rebuilding her home.

Client Statement: B. The client says that she sometimes forgets why she is in the hospital.

Isolation can be inferred here because the client's statement about forgetting why she is in the hospital may indicate a psychological distancing or detachment from the traumatic events that led her there. It suggests a coping mechanism where she separates her emotional distress (related to the house collapse) from the practical reality of being hospitalized and receiving treatment.

Client Statement: D. The client is frightened that the hospital will burn down.

This statement fits into the defense mechanisms of fantasy. The client encounters thoughts of the hospital burning and her house burns down.