A nurse is assessing a client who has suffered a traumatic brain injury. When the nurse applies a stimuli to the client, which of the following responses by the client indicates that the client has suffered an extensive cervical spine injury?

Choice A Reason: Educating the client about the therapy is an important action by the nurse, but not the priority one. The nurse should explain the purpose, procedure, benefits, and risks of hydrotherapy to the client before starting it, but only after ensuring their comfort and pain relief.

Choice B Reason: Providing analgesics after therapy ends is not enough, as the nurse should provide them before and during therapy as well. Hydrotherapy involves cleansing and debriding of burn wounds with water jets or whirlpools, which can be very painful and stressful for the client.

Choice C Reason: This is the correct choice. Providing analgesics before therapy begins is the priority action by the nurse, as it reduces pain and anxiety for the client and facilitates wound healing. The nurse should assess the client's pain level and administer appropriate analgesics at least 30 minutes before hydrotherapy.

Choice D Reason: Ensuring there are clean supplies is an essential action by the nurse, but not the priority one. The nurse should use sterile or clean equipment and solutions for hydrotherapy to prevent infection and contamination of burn wounds, but only after ensuring their comfort and pain relief.

Choice A Reason: Requesting the charge nurse put the client on the surgery schedule is not the best first action, as it does not address the urgency of the situation. The client may have a perforated appendix, which is a life-threatening complication that requires immediate intervention.

Choice B Reason: Documenting the WBC count from the morning labs is not the best first action, as it does not address the client's current condition. The WBC count may be elevated due to inflammation or infection, but it does not indicate the severity of the problem.

Choice C Reason: This is the correct choice. Notifying the healthcare provider is the best first action, as it alerts them to the possibility of a perforated appendix and allows them to order appropriate tests and treatments.

Choice D Reason: Providing an antiemetic is not the best first action, as it does not address the underlying cause of the vomiting. The client may have peritonitis, which is inflammation of the abdominal cavity due to leakage of intestinal contents. An antiemetic may mask this symptom and delay diagnosis and treatment.