A nursing student studying spinal cord injury recognizes all of the following to be causes of secondary injuries:

Autonomic dysreflexia

Ischemia

Edema

Axial loading

Hemorrhage

Answer and Explanation

Correct Answer : A,B,C,E

Choice A reason:

Autonomic dysreflexia is a serious condition that can occur in individuals with spinal cord injuries, particularly those at or above the T6 level. It is a secondary injury mechanism that results from the autonomic nervous system's abnormal response to stimuli below the level of injury, leading to severe hypertension and other complications.

Choice B reason:

Ischemia, or reduced blood flow, is a common cause of secondary injury following a spinal cord injury. It can result from initial trauma or subsequent swelling and vascular damage, leading to further cell death and tissue damage.

Choice C reason:

Edema, or swelling, is another cause of secondary injury in spinal cord injuries. The inflammatory response to injury can cause fluid accumulation, increasing pressure within the spinal column and exacerbating damage to spinal cord tissues.

Choice D reason:

Axial loading is a primary mechanism of spinal cord injury, not a secondary injury cause. It refers to the vertical force applied along the axis of the spine, typically resulting from falls or direct blows, leading to compression and potential fractures.

Choice E reason:

Hemorrhage, or bleeding, is a significant cause of secondary injury in spinal cord trauma. It can result from blood vessel damage at the injury site, leading to increased pressure, further tissue damage, and impaired blood flow.

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A reason:

A 72-year-old client with a brain tumor, GCS of 5, and decerebrate posturing may not be an ideal candidate for organ donation due to age and underlying cancer, which can affect organ viability.

Choice B reason:

A 24-year-old client after a motor vehicle accident with a GCS of 3 and no activity on electroencephalogram is a prime candidate for organ donation. The lack of brain activity indicates brain death, and the patient's young age and otherwise healthy organs make them suitable for transplantation.

Choice C reason:

A 68-year-old male with a massive stroke and GCS of 6 has significant neurological impairment but is not necessarily brain dead. Further evaluation would be required, but this patient may not meet the criteria for brain death necessary for organ donation.

Choice D reason:

A 50-year-old female with a GCS of 12 after surgical evacuation of an epidural hematoma is not an ideal candidate for organ donation at this time as they have a higher level of consciousness and potential for recovery.

A. Provide small doses of opioid analgesia B. Maintain pCO2 of 35-45 C. Administer an anti-anxiety agent D. Monitor blood pressure every four hours

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A reason:

Providing small doses of opioid analgesia is important for pain management, but it is not the highest priority in a patient with a closed head injury on mechanical ventilation. Pain control should be balanced with the need to monitor neurological status.

Choice B reason:

Maintaining pCO2 of 35-45 is critical for patients with a closed head injury on mechanical ventilation. Proper pCO2 levels help manage intracranial pressure (ICP) and prevent secondary brain injury. Hyperventilation to lower pCO2 can reduce ICP but must be carefully controlled to avoid cerebral ischemia.

Choice C reason:

Administering an anti-anxiety agent can help manage agitation and anxiety, but it is not the highest priority. Sedation must be used cautiously in head injury patients to avoid masking changes in neurological status.

Choice D reason:

Monitoring blood pressure every four hours is necessary for overall patient care, but continuous monitoring and immediate interventions are more critical in managing intracranial pressure and preventing secondary brain injury.

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A nursing student studying spinal cord injury recognizes all of the following to be causes of secondary injuries:

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A charge nurse is reviewing the status of patients in the critical care unit. Which patient should the charge nurse notify the organ procurement team to evaluate for possible organ donation?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A nurse is caring for a patient with a closed head injury on mechanical ventilation. Which of the following actions is highest priority?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

When planning care for a patient on a mechanical ventilator, the nurse understands that the application of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) to the ventilator settings has which therapeutic effect?

The nurse is preparing to care for a patient with a spinal fracture who has a halo device in place. The nurse plans to implement the following orders:

A patient has been brought to the emergency department with a life-threatening chest injury. What action by the nurse takes priority?

The nurse caring for patients who are mechanically ventilated uses best practices to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia. What actions are included in this practice?

The nurse receives new orders for multiple clients. Which order should be the nurse's priority?

A nurse is caring for a client in acute respiratory failure who is receiving mechanical ventilation. Which of the following assessments is the best method to determine the effectiveness of the current treatments?

A nurse is preparing to infuse one unit, 330 mL, of packed red blood cells over 4 hours to a patient with heart failure. The nurse should set the pump to deliver how many mL/hr? Round to the nearest whole number.

A patient with a neck fracture at the C3 level is admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) following initial treatment in the emergency room. During the initial assessment of the patient, the nurse recognizes the presence of spinal shock on finding: