A nurse in the emergency department is monitoring a client who has a cervical spinal cord injury from a fall. The nurse should monitor the client for which of the following complications? (Select all that apply.)

Weakened gag reﬂex

Hyperthermia

Absence of bowel sounds

Paralysis

Polyuria

Hypotension

Answer and Explanation

Correct Answer : A,C,D,F

Choice A: A cervical spinal cord injury can impair the function of cranial nerves, leading to a weakened gag reflex and an increased risk of aspiration.

Choice B: Patients with spinal cord injuries are more likely to experience poikilothermia (difficulty regulating body temperature), but this often results in hypothermia, not hyperthermia, due to the loss of autonomic temperature control.

Choice C: Spinal shock, which often follows a spinal cord injury, can cause decreased or absent bowel sounds due to a temporary loss of autonomic function and decreased peristalsis.

Choice D: Depending on the level and severity of the injury, paralysis can occur, affecting motor function below the injury site. A cervical spinal cord injury may lead to quadriplegia (tetraplegia).

Choice E: Clients with spinal cord injuries are more likely to experience urinary retention, rather than polyuria, due to loss of bladder control and autonomic dysfunction. A foley catheter may be needed initially, followed by intermittent catheterization.

Choice F: Neurogenic shock, a potential complication of cervical spinal cord injuries, can cause hypotension due to the loss of sympathetic nervous system control over blood vessel tone, leading to vasodilation and bradycardia.

Nursing Test Bank

Quiz #1: RN Exams Pharmacology Exams Quiz #2: RN Exams Medical-Surgical Exams Quiz #3: RN Exams Fundamentals Exams Quiz #4: RN Exams Maternal-Newborn Exams Quiz #5: RN Exams Anatomy and Physiology Exams Quiz #6: RN Exams Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Quiz #7: RN Exams Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Quiz #8: RN Exams Community Health Exams Quiz #9: RN Exams Promoting Health across the lifespan Exams Quiz #10: RN Exams Multidimensional care Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Quiz #1: Naxlex RN Comprehensive online practice 2019 B with NGN Quiz #2: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Quiz #3: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Exit Exam A Quiz #4: Naxlex HESI Exit LPN Exam Quiz #5: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor PN 2020 Quiz #6: Naxlex VATI PN Comprehensive Predictor 2020 Quiz #8: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 - Exam 1 Quiz #10: Naxlex HESI PN Exit exam Quiz #11: Naxlex HESI PN EXIT Exam 2

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A: Weight gain is not a manifestation of left-sided heart failure. Weight gain is more likely to occur in right-sided heart failure, as the blood backs up in the systemic circulation and causes ﬂuid retention and edema in the body.

Choice B: Anorexia is not a manifestation of left-sided heart failure. Anorexia is a loss of appetite, which can have many causes, such as psychological disorders, infections, medications, or cancer. Left-sided heart failure does not directly affect appetite, but it can cause nausea, fatigue, and weakness.

Choice C: A distended abdomen is not a manifestation of left-sided heart failure. A distended abdomen is more likely to occur in right-sided heart failure, as the blood backs up in the portal vein and causes increased pressure in the liver and spleen. This can lead to hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, ascites, and varices.

Choice D: Breathlessness is a manifestation of left-sided heart failure. Breathlessness, or dyspnea, is a sensation of difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Breathlessness occurs in left-sided heart failure, as the blood backs up in the lungs and causes pulmonary congestion and edema. This impairs gas exchange and reduces oxygen delivery to the tissues.

A. The client can follow simple motor commands. B. The client opens his eyes when spoken to. C. The client is unconscious. D. The client is unable to make vocal sounds.

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A Reason: This is incorrect because the client's best motor response is 5, which means he can localize pain, not follow commands.

Choice B Reason: This is incorrect because the client's eye opening response is 3, which means he opens his eyes to pain, not to speech.

Choice C Reason: This is correct because the client's GCS score is 13, which indicates a severe impairment of consciousness. The GCS is a tool used to assess the level of consciousness of a person who has a head injury. The GCS score ranges from 3 to 15, with lower scores indicating lower levels of consciousness. A GCS score of 8 or less indicates coma. The client's GCS score is 3 + 5 + 5 = 13, which is above the coma threshold, but still indicates a severe impairment of consciousness. The other choices are not consistent with the client's GCS score.

Choice D Reason: This is incorrect because the client's best verbal response is 5, which means he can orient himself to person, place, and time, not that he is unable to make vocal sounds.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

A nurse in the emergency department is monitoring a client who has a cervical spinal cord injury from a fall. The nurse should monitor the client for which of the following complications? (Select all that apply.)

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is caring for a client who has valvular heart disease and is at risk for developing left-sided heart failure. Which of the following manifestations should alert the nurse that the client is developing this condition?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A nurse is receiving a transfer report for a client who has a head injury. The client has a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 3 for eye opening, 5 for best verbal response, and 5 for best motor response. Which of the following is an appropriate conclusion based on this data?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A nurse is triaging victims of a multiple motor-vehicle crash. The nurse assesses a client trapped under a car who is apneic and has a weak pulse at 120/min. After repositioning his upper airway, the client remains apneic. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A community health nurse is providing a community education program about disaster preparedness. Which of the following should the nurse recommend that clients include in their family’s disaster readiness supply kit or “go bag”? (Select all that apply.)

A nurse is caring for a client who has a serum potassium level of 5.5 mEq/L. The provider prescribes polystyrene sulfonate. If this medication is eﬀective, the nurse should expect which of the following changes on the client’s ECG?

A nurse is caring for a client who has bleeding esophageal varices and is being treated with a Sengstaken-Blakemore tube. Which of the following actions should the nurse perform?

A nurse in the emergency room is caring for a client who presents with manifestations that indicate a myocardial infarction. Which of the following prescriptions should the nurse take first?

A nurse is admitting a client who has acute heart failure following myocardial infarction (MI). The nurse recognizes that which of the following prescriptions by the provider requires clarification?

A nurse is caring for a client who has expressive aphasia following a cerebrovascular accident (CVA). Which of the following parameters should the nurse use first in order to assess the client’s pain level?

A nurse is observing the closed chest drainage system of a client who is 24 hr post thoracotomy. The nurse notes slow, steady bubbling in the suction control chamber. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?