A 16-year-old emancipated client is being seen in the emergency department following a minor automobile accident. The client's parents arrive and are asking questions about the client's laboratory results. Which response is best for the nurse to provide?

Choice A Reason: This is incorrect because positioning the head with the chin tilted slightly downward can help prevent aspiration by closing the airway and directing food to the back of the throat.

Choice B Reason: This is incorrect because raising the head of the bed to 60 degrees can help prevent aspiration by using gravity to keep food in the stomach and away from the lungs.

Choice C Reason: This is incorrect because placing food on the unaffected side of the mouth can help prevent aspiration by stimulating the intact nerves and muscles that control swallowing.

Choice D Reason: This is correct because allowing 30 minutes of rest before feeding can increase the risk of aspiration by reducing the client's alertness and coordination. The UAP should feed the client when he or she is awake and responsive.

Potential Conditions

Overflow urinary incontinence

This is the correct choice because overflow urinary incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine due to a distended bladder that cannot empty completely. The client has cerebral palsy, which can affect the bladder muscles and nerves, causing them to lose coordination and contractility. The client is also non-verbal and has severe intellectual disability, which can impair his ability to sense or communicate the need to void. The client's clothes and sheets are wet, indicating that he has leaked urine. The client voided approximately 75 mL of urine, which is a small amount for an adult male. These signs suggest that the client has overflow urinary incontinence.

Actions to Take

Provide skin care

This is a correct choice because the nurse should provide skin care to the client who has overflow urinary incontinence. The nurse should cleanse the perineal area with mild soap and water, pat dry, and apply a barrier cream or ointment to protect the skin from moisture and irritation. The nurse should also change the client's clothes and sheets as needed to keep him dry and comfortable.

Place an incontinence containment product under the client

This is a correct choice because the nurse should place an incontinence containment product under the client who has overflow urinary incontinence. An incontinence containment product is a device or material that absorbs or collects urine, such as a diaper, pad, or catheter. The nurse should choose an appropriate product based on the client's preferences, needs, and abilities. The nurse should also monitor the product for leakage, odor, or infection, and change it regularly.

Parameters to Monitor

Intake and output

This is a correct choice because the nurse should monitor the intake and output of the client who has overflow urinary incontinence. The nurse should measure and record the amount and type of fluids that the client consumes and excretes. The nurse should also note the color, clarity, odor, and specific gravity of the urine. The nurse should compare the intake and output with the normal ranges for the client's age, weight, and condition. The nurse should report any abnormal findings or changes to the health care provider.

Post-void residual

This is a correct choice because the nurse should monitor the post-void residual of the client who has overflow urinary incontinence. Post-void residual is the amount of urine left in the bladder after voiding. The nurse can measure it by using a bladder scanner or inserting a catheter after the client voids. A normal post-void residual is less than 50 mL for an adult male. A high post-void residual indicates that the bladder is not emptying completely, which can lead to overflow urinary incontinence. The nurse should report any high post-void residual to the health care provider.