A nurse at a community health clinic is caring for a client who reports a headache and stiff neck. Which of the following actions should the nurse perform first?
Obtain a throat culture specimen.
Perform a complete blood count.
Check the client's temperature.
Administer an oral analgesic.
The Correct Answer is C
A. Obtaining a throat culture specimen might be necessary if a throat infection is suspected, but it is not the immediate priority without first assessing the presence of fever or other systemic signs.
B. Performing a complete blood count could be useful in diagnosing underlying conditions or infections but is not the initial action; the temperature check provides immediate information about potential systemic infection.
C. Check the client's temperature.Headache and stiff neck are symptoms that could be associated with various conditions, including infections such as meningitis. A fever often accompanies infections, and checking the client's temperature helps in identifying if there is a fever, which could be indicative of an infection requiring further evaluation and treatment.
D. Administering an oral analgesic could provide symptom relief but does not address the underlying cause of the symptoms. It is essential first to assess the client’s condition fully before initiating symptomatic treatment.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Halo-vest traction immobilizes a patient’s head and neck after traumatic injury to the cervical vertebrae as well as helping to prevent further injury to the spinal cord². Elevating the head of the bed can help improve the patient's comfort and reduce the risk of complications such as aspiration.
a. Placing the client in a supine position is not necessarily required for a patient in halo traction. The position of the patient should be determined by their individual needs and comfort.
c. Applying a pelvic girdle is not necessary for a patient in halo traction. Halo-vest traction consists of a metal ring that fits over the patient’s head and metal bars that connect the ring to a plastic vest that distributes the weight of the entire apparatus around the chest².
d. Elevating the foot of the bed is not necessary for a patient in halo traction. The position of the bed
should be determined by the patient's individual needs and comfort.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
a.Skeletal traction is often better than skin traction for reducing and maintaining alignment of a fracture because it involves the insertion of pins, wires, or screws directly into the bone, allowing for greater force and stability.
b.Clients in skin traction typically have less mobility compared to those in skeletal traction. Skin traction is usually used for short-term purposes or less severe fractures and involves attaching weights to the skin using adhesive materials or bandages, which can limit movement to some extent.
c.Skeletal traction involves inserting hardware into the bone, which creates an entry point for potential infection. Therefore, it has a higher risk for infection compared to skin traction, which does not involve invasive procedures.
d.While both types of traction can cause discomfort, skeletal traction is typically more invasive and can be associated with more discomfort and pain due to the pins or wires inserted into the bone. Skin traction, while uncomfortable due to the adhesive and pressure on the skin, generally causes less discomfort than skeletal traction.
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