The nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client who has fallen 20 feet from a roof. While performing the primary assessment, what is the most important nursing intervention?

Remove clothing

Maintain cervical spine precaution

Perform a mental status exam

Assess for facial lacerations

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

A. Remove clothing: While removing clothing may be necessary for a thorough assessment and treatment, maintaining cervical spine precaution takes precedence to prevent potential spinal cord injury in clients with a history of trauma, such as a fall from a significant height.

B. Maintain cervical spine precaution: Maintaining cervical spine precaution by stabilizing the cervical spine and immobilizing the neck is crucial to prevent further injury to the spinal cord in clients with a history of trauma until spinal injury is ruled out or managed.

C. Perform a mental status exam: While assessing the client's mental status is important for evaluating neurological function, it is not the first priority in a client with potential spinal cord injury following a fall.

D. Assess for facial lacerations: Assessing for facial lacerations is important for identifying and managing potential facial injuries, but it is not the first priority in the primary assessment of a client with a history of trauma and potential spinal cord injury.

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A. The patient reports chronic severe back pain: Chronic severe back pain may indicate underlying spinal issues but does not necessarily require immediate action compared to acute symptoms such as new-onset weakness of both legs.

B. The patient expresses anxiety about having surgery: While addressing the patient's anxiety is important for providing holistic care, it is not the most immediate concern compared to new- onset weakness of both legs, which may indicate spinal cord compression requiring urgent
intervention.

C. The patient has new-onset weakness of both legs: New-onset weakness of both legs suggests potential spinal cord compression or neurological deficit requiring immediate evaluation and intervention to prevent further neurological damage or complications.

D. The patient starts to cry and says, "I feel hopeless": While addressing the patient's emotional needs is important, it is not the most immediate concern compared to addressing acute neurological symptoms such as new-onset weakness of both legs.

A. Administer naproxen. B. Elevate the head of the bed to 30°. C. Check BP and call for a blood patch. D. Darken the client's room and close the door.

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A. Administer naproxen: While pain management is important, naproxen may not effectively resolve the headache associated with post-lumbar puncture headache (PLPH), which is often caused by cerebrospinal fluid leakage.

B. Elevate the head of the bed to 30°: While elevating the head of the bed may provide some relief, it is not typically sufficient to resolve PLPH, which often requires more definitive interventions.

C. Check BP and call for a blood patch: PLPH is commonly treated with a blood patch, which involves injecting the patient's own blood into the epidural space to seal the puncture site and restore normal cerebrospinal fluid pressure. Checking blood pressure is important to assess for hypotension, and calling for a blood patch is the most appropriate action to address the underlying cause of the headache.

D. Darken the client's room and close the door: While creating a quiet and dim environment may help alleviate symptoms of headache, it does not address the underlying cause of PLPH and is not the most appropriate intervention in this situation.

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The nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client who has fallen 20 feet from a roof. While performing the primary assessment, what is the most important nursing intervention?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

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