The nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with an injury to the cerebellum who cannot complete the Romberg Test. Which nursing intervention is priority?
Ensure bed alarm is on when leaving patient's room
Vary schedule to prevent memorization and boredom
Clarify misinformation and reorient when confused
Deep breathing and incentive spirometer education
The Correct Answer is A
A) Ensure bed alarm is on when leaving patient's room:
The cerebellum plays a critical role in coordinating movement, balance, and motor control. An injury to this area can lead to impaired coordination and dysfunction in balance, making it difficult for the patient to perform the Romberg test (which evaluates balance and proprioception). Given that the patient cannot complete the Romberg test, this suggests the risk of falling or injuring themselves due to impaired balance and coordination. The priority nursing intervention is to ensure safety by using a bed alarm to alert staff if the patient attempts to get out of bed, thereby preventing falls.
B) Vary schedule to prevent memorization and boredom:
While changing the patient's routine may help with engagement, it is not the priority intervention for a patient with cerebellar injury. The primary concern in this situation is safety due to the patient's impaired balance. Addressing issues related to cognitive function or boredom may be important but comes after ensuring the patient’s physical safety.
C) Clarify misinformation and reorient when confused:
Reorientation may be necessary if the patient is confused or disoriented, but this is not the primary concern related to cerebellar injury. The patient’s balance and motor coordination are the most pressing issues. While mental clarity is important, preventing falls due to impaired motor control is the immediate priority.
D) Deep breathing and incentive spirometer education:
Deep breathing exercises and using an incentive spirometer are essential to prevent respiratory complications, particularly after surgery or immobility. However, in this case, the priority concern is the patient's safety related to impaired balance from the cerebellar injury. Respiratory interventions are important but should be addressed after ensuring that the patient is safe from falls and other immediate physical risks.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A) Encourage the client to ambulate and perform deep breathing exercises:
While ambulation and deep breathing exercises are important for post-operative recovery, they are not the priority intervention in this scenario. The client is presenting with abdominal distension and pain, which could indicate a potential complication such as bowel obstruction, ileus, or internal bleeding. These symptoms need to be thoroughly evaluated by the healthcare provider to rule out serious complications.
B) Notify the healthcare provider and prepare the client for further testing:
The combination of abdominal pain and distension in a client who is four days post-operative for an abdominal aortic aneurysm repair is concerning for potential complications such as bowel ischemia, internal bleeding, or post-operative ileus. It is essential to notify the healthcare provider immediately for further assessment and possible diagnostic tests, such as imaging or a physical exam to evaluate for signs of ischemia or obstruction
C) Document the client's symptoms and continue to monitor:
Although documenting and monitoring the client's symptoms is important in nursing care, it is not the most appropriate immediate response. Given the symptoms, including pain and abdominal distension, there is a potential for a serious complication, and simply continuing to monitor without notifying the healthcare provider could delay diagnosis and treatment.
D) Administer pain medication and explain this is normal:
While it is important to manage the client's pain, explaining that the symptoms are "normal" could lead to a delay in identifying a potentially serious issue. Abdominal distension and pain post-operatively in a patient who has undergone abdominal surgery should never be assumed to be a normal part of recovery without further investigation.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A) Clubbing of the fingers
Clubbing of the fingers is typically associated with chronic hypoxia, often due to conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), congenital heart defects, or chronic respiratory disorders. While mitral valve stenosis can lead to pulmonary congestion and sometimes hypoxia, clubbing is not a hallmark finding of mitral valve stenosis.
B) A heart murmur
Mitral valve stenosis is commonly characterized by a heart murmur. The stenosis (narrowing) of the mitral valve obstructs blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle, leading to turbulent blood flow. This creates a characteristic diastolic murmur (a low-pitched, rumbling murmur heard best at the apex of the heart with the patient in the left lateral decubitus position).
C) Barrel chest
A barrel chest is more commonly associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, and other conditions that cause long-term hyperinflation of the lungs. It is not a typical finding in mitral valve stenosis. The shape of the chest may change over time in patients with severe left-sided heart failure, but this is not a primary or direct consequence of mitral valve stenosis.
D) Bradycardia
Bradycardia (a slow heart rate) is not a characteristic finding of mitral valve stenosis. In fact, mitral valve stenosis can lead to increased heart rates due to reduced cardiac output and compensatory mechanisms. As the left atrium becomes increasingly distended from the obstruction, atrial fibrillation (a rapid, irregular heartbeat) is common in mitral valve stenosis.
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