A nurse is caring for a client following a complete spinal cord transection injury. The client's family asks the nurse what the term paraplegia means. Which of the following responses should the nurse make?
His lower body and legs are extremely weak.
He is unable to move his lower body and legs.
He has temporarily lost motor and sensory functions below the waist.
He cannot move anything from the neck down.
The Correct Answer is B
A. Weakness in the lower body is not an accurate description of paraplegia. Paraplegia refers to the loss of function, not just weakness.
B. Paraplegia refers to the loss of motor and sensory function in the lower body, including the legs, due to a spinal cord injury, typically below the level of the injury. This is the most accurate response.
C. Temporary loss of motor and sensory functions is more characteristic of conditions like spinal shock, not paraplegia. Paraplegia refers to permanent impairment following spinal cord injury.
D. The description of loss of movement from the neck down is characteristic of quadriplegia (or tetraplegia), not paraplegia, which specifically involves the lower body.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter that is decreased in individuals with Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease is characterized by the degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain, leading to motor symptoms such as tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia. Levodopa, a precursor to dopamine, is used to increase dopamine levels in the brain and alleviate symptoms.
B. Norepinephrine is involved in mood regulation and other functions, but it is not the primary neurotransmitter involved in Parkinson's disease.
C. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that affects mood, sleep, and appetite, but it is not the primary neurotransmitter involved in Parkinson's disease.
D. Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter, but its role is more related to other conditions like neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS, rather than Parkinson's disease.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Neutropenic precautions are used for clients with compromised immune systems, such as those undergoing chemotherapy or bone marrow suppression. This is not appropriate for bacterial meningitis.
B. Contact isolation is used for infections that are transmitted through direct contact with the patient or their environment, such as MRSA or C. difficile. Bacterial meningitis, however, is spread through respiratory droplets.
C. Universal precautions refer to standard infection control practices (like hand hygiene and wearing gloves) that apply to all patients, but specific precautions are needed for certain infections like bacterial meningitis.
D. Droplet isolation is necessary for bacterial meningitis, as it is transmitted via respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing, or talking. This isolation prevents the spread of the infection to others in close proximity.
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