The nurse is caring for a patient who has had a spinal cord injury at level C5-C6 as a result of an automobile accident. The patient suddenly develops severe hypertension, throbbing headache, blurred vision, and bradycardia.

What is the priority nursing intervention?

Administer antihypertensive medication as prescribed.

Elevate the head of bed to 90 degrees.

Check for bladder distention or fecal impaction.

Apply a cooling blanket to lower body temperature.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

The correct answer is C.

Check for bladder distention or fecal impaction.

Autonomic dysreflexia is a disorder of autonomic nervous system dysregulation that occurs in patients with a spinal cord injury above T6.

It is caused by an exaggerated reflex response of the sympathetic nervous system due to an irritating stimulus below the spinal cord injury. It leads to severe hypertension and is a medical emergency.

Bladder or bowel distension are the most common triggers of autonomic dysreflexia.

Therefore, the priority nursing intervention is to check for bladder distention or fecal impaction and relieve them as soon as possible.

This can help to eliminate the stimulus and lower the blood pressure.

Choice A is wrong because administering antihypertensive medication as prescribed may not be effective or appropriate for autonomic dysreflexia.

The hypertension is caused by a reflex mechanism and not by a primary cardiovascular disorder. Moreover, antihypertensive drugs may cause hypotension once the stimulus is removed.

Choice B is wrong because elevating the head of bed to 90 degrees may not be enough to lower the blood pressure. It may also increase the risk of orthostatic hypotension once the stimulus is removed. However, sitting the patient upright and loosening any tight clothing are recommended as initial steps to reduce the blood pressure.

Choice D is wrong because applying a cooling blanket to lower body temperature is not indicated for autonomic dysreflexia. There is no evidence that body temperature is elevated or contributes to the hypertension in this condition. A cooling blanket may also cause vasoconstriction and worsen the hypertension.

Normal ranges for blood pressure vary depending on age, sex, and other factors.

However, a general guideline is that systolic blood pressure should be less than 120 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure should be less than 80 mm Hg for most adults.

Normal ranges for heart rate also vary depending on age, activity level, and other factors.

However, a general guideline is that resting heart rate should be between 60 and 100 beats per minute for most adults.

References:.

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Correct Answer is D

Explanation

The correct answer is D.

Delirium.

The nurse should monitor the client for delirium, which is a state of acute mental confusion that can be caused by fever, infection, dehydration, or medications.

Delirium can affect the client’s cognition, attention, orientation, memory, and behavior.It can also increase the risk of falls, complications, and mortality.

Choice A is wrong because dehydration is not a complication of fever, but rather a possible cause of fever.

Dehydration occurs when the body loses more fluid than it takes in, and it can impair the body’s ability to regulate its temperature.Dehydration is more common and dangerous in older adults because they have a lower volume of water in their bodies, a weaker thirst response, and may have conditions or medications that increase fluid loss.

Choice B is wrong because hypothermia is not a complication of fever, but rather a condition of abnormally low body temperature.

Hypothermia can occur when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it, such as in cold weather or water exposure.Hypothermia can affect the brain, heart, and other organs, and can lead to death if not treated promptly.

Choice C is wrong because seizures are not a common complication of fever in older adults.

Seizures are sudden episodes of abnormal electrical activity in the brain that can cause changes in movement, sensation, behavior, or consciousness.

Seizures can have various causes, such as head injury, stroke, infection, or epilepsy.

Fever-induced seizures are more likely to occur in young children than in older adults.

A. Muscle atrophy and fasciculations. B. Intention tremors and nystagmus. C. Flaccid paralysis and areflexia. D. Hyperactive reflexes and spasticity.

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Intention tremors and nystagmus.These are some of the common symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS), a condition that affects the central nervous system and causes communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body.Intention tremors are involuntary shaking movements that occur when a person tries to perform a precise action, such as reaching for an object or writing.Nystagmus is a condition where the eyes make repetitive, uncontrolled movements, often resulting in reduced vision and depth perception.

Choice A is wrong because muscle atrophy and fasciculations are more typical of motor neuron diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which affect the nerve cells that control voluntary muscle movements.

Choice C is wrong because flaccid paralysis and areflexia are signs of lower motor neuron lesions, which can be caused by spinal cord injuries, peripheral nerve disorders, or Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Choice D is wrong because hyperactive reflexes and spasticity are signs of upper motor neuron lesions, which can be caused by stroke, traumatic brain injury, or cerebral palsy.

Normal ranges for some of the symptoms mentioned are:.

• Intention tremors: none or minimal.

• Nystagmus: none or minimal.

• Muscle atrophy: none or minimal.

• Fasciculations: none or minimal.

• Flaccid paralysis: none or minimal.

• Areflexia: absent or reduced reflexes.

• Hyperactive reflexes: normal or slightly increased reflexes.

• Spasticity: normal or slightly increased muscle tone.

A. Muscle atrophy and fasciculations B.

Intention tremors and nystagmus C.

Flaccid paralysis and areflexia D.

Hyperactive reflexes and spasticity

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The nurse is caring for a patient who has had a spinal cord injury at level C5-C6 as a result of an automobile accident. The patient suddenly develops severe hypertension, throbbing headache, blurred vision, and bradycardia. What is the priority nursing intervention?

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The nurse is caring for a patient who has had a spinal cord injury at level C5-C6 as a result of an automobile accident. The patient suddenly develops severe hypertension, throbbing headache, blurred vision, and bradycardia.

What is the priority nursing intervention?