A nurse is caring for a client who has a head injury. The client states they fell off a ladder while painting approximately 2 hours ago and lost consciousness for 45 minutes according to their partner. The nurse should determine that the client is experiencing which of the following classifications of traumatic brain injury?

The correct answer is: d. On the nonoperative side

Choice A: Prone

Reason: Placing a patient in the prone position (lying face down) after a pneumonectomy is generally not recommended. This position can compromise respiratory function by restricting chest expansion and increasing the risk of respiratory complications. Additionally, it can place undue pressure on the surgical site, potentially leading to complications such as impaired wound healing or increased pain.

Choice B: Semi-Fowler’s

Reason: The Semi-Fowler’s position (head of the bed elevated to 30-45 degrees) is often used to promote lung expansion and reduce the risk of aspiration. While it can be beneficial for general postoperative care, it is not the optimal position for a patient who has undergone a pneumonectomy. This position does not specifically address the need to prevent fluid accumulation in the remaining lung.

Choice C: Sims

Reason: The Sims position (lying on the side with one leg bent) is typically used for procedures such as enemas or to facilitate drainage of oral secretions. It is not suitable for a postoperative pneumonectomy patient because it does not provide the necessary support to the remaining lung and can increase the risk of fluid shifting to the nonoperative side.

Choice D: On the nonoperative side

Reason: Placing the patient on the nonoperative side is the correct position. This position helps to prevent fluid from accumulating in the remaining lung and reduces the risk of complications such as mediastinal shift or respiratory distress. By positioning the patient on the nonoperative side, gravity helps to keep the remaining lung expanded and functional.

Choice A reason: Overflow incontinence is not the type of urinary incontinence that the client is experiencing. Overflow incontinence occurs when the bladder is overfilled and cannot empty properly, causing frequent or constant dribbling of urine. It can be caused by a blockage in the urinary tract, such as an enlarged prostate or a kidney stone, or by a weak bladder muscle that cannot contract enough to empty the bladder.

Choice B reason: Urge incontinence is not the type of urinary incontinence that the client is experiencing. Urge incontinence occurs when the bladder muscle contracts involuntarily and causes a sudden and strong urge to urinate, followed by an involuntary loss of urine. It can be caused by an infection, a neurological disorder, or an overactive bladder.

Choice C reason: Stress incontinence is not the type of urinary incontinence that the client is experiencing. Stress incontinence occurs when the pelvic floor muscles or the urethral sphincter are weakened or damaged and cannot hold urine in the bladder when there is increased abdominal pressure, such as from coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercising. It can be caused by pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, or surgery.

Choice D reason: Reflex incontinence is the type of urinary incontinence that the client is experiencing. Reflex incontinence occurs when the bladder muscle contracts without the sensation or control of the person, causing urine to leak without warning or awareness. It can be caused by nerve damage that affects the communication between the bladder and the brain, such as from a spinal cord injury, a stroke, or multiple sclerosis..