The nurse is caring for a patient who reports sudden right-sided numbness and weakness of the arm and leg.
The nurse also observes a distinct right-sided facial droop.
After reporting the findings to the healthcare provider, the nurse receives several prescriptions for the patient, including a STAT computerized tomography scan of the head.
What intervention should the nurse perform in the immediate management of the patient?

Choice A rationale

While it’s true that many contraceptives can help prevent certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs), they are not 100% effective. Condoms, for instance, can reduce the risk of STIs that are spread through bodily fluids, such as gonorrhea and chlamydia. However, they are less effective at protecting against STIs that are transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, such as herpes and human papillomavirus (HPV)1.

Choice B rationale

Not all STIs are transmitted through sexual intercourse. Some STIs, such as herpes and HPV, can be spread through skin-to-skin contact. Others, like HIV and hepatitis B and C, can also be spread through sharing needles or from mother to child during childbirth.

Choice C rationale

Safe sex practices can significantly reduce, but not completely remove, the risk of STIs. These practices include using condoms correctly every time you have sex, getting tested regularly for STIs, and limiting the number of sexual partners.

Choice D rationale

Reinfections can indeed occur from having sex with untreated partners. This is particularly true for bacterial STIs like syphilis. If a person’s partner is not treated, the bacteria can remain in their body and they can pass the infection back to the person after they’ve been treated.

Choice A rationale

Decreased range of motion is generally associated with a rotator cuff injury. This is because the rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint, keeping the head of the upper arm bone firmly within the shallow socket of the shoulder. When these muscles or tendons are injured, it can limit the shoulder’s range of motion.

Choice B rationale

Pain with movement can be a symptom of both a rotator cuff injury and a humeral fracture. Both conditions involve structures that are integral to the movement of the arm, and damage to these structures can cause pain when they are moved or put under strain.

Choice C rationale

Reduced strength in the left upper extremity is more commonly associated with a rotator cuff injury. The rotator cuff is responsible for the stability of the shoulder joint and enables the arm to lift and rotate. An injury to the rotator cuff can therefore lead to a reduction in the strength of the arm.

Choice D rationale

Reduced pulse distal to the injury is more commonly associated with a humeral fracture. This is because a fracture to the humerus could potentially damage the blood vessels running along the bone, leading to a reduced pulse further down the arm.

Choice E rationale

Coolness of the skin is more commonly associated with a humeral fracture. This could be due to damage to the blood vessels, leading to reduced blood flow and therefore a lower skin temperature.