The nurse is caring for a client admitted with moderate neck pain and numbness and tingling in the lower extremities after falling off a trampoline. The client is alert, oriented, with spontaneous movement of all extremities, respiratory rate of 16 breaths per minute and regular, heart rate of 96 beats per minute, and blood pressure of 124/76 mmHg. What action should the nurse take?
Apply supplemental oxygen via nasal cannula.
Administer intravenous morphine for pain.
Keep the hard collar in place until cleared.
Administer intravenous methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol) as prescribed.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A reason: Supplemental oxygen is unnecessary with a normal respiratory rate (16) and stable vitals. Maintaining the collar prevents spinal injury, making this incorrect, as it’s not indicated compared to the nurse’s priority of ensuring spinal stability in a client with a fall history.
Choice B reason: Morphine for pain is premature without confirming spinal stability, as it may mask symptoms. Keeping the collar in place is critical, making this incorrect, as it risks missing neurological changes in the nurse’s care of a potential spinal injury client.
Choice C reason: Keeping the hard collar in place until cleared by imaging prevents worsening of potential spinal injury after a trampoline fall. This aligns with trauma care protocols, making it the correct action for the nurse to take to ensure the client’s safety and stability.
Choice D reason: Methylprednisolone is used for confirmed spinal cord injury, not suspected cases without imaging. Maintaining the collar is the priority, making this incorrect, as it’s premature compared to the nurse’s focus on spinal precautions in a client with numbness and tingling.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: Tongue furrows indicate dehydration but don’t assess ambulation safety, which requires hemodynamic stability. Orthostatic blood pressure changes are key, making this incorrect, as it’s less relevant than the nurse’s priority to evaluate fall risk in a dehydrated client.
Choice B reason: Comparing blood pressure in lying, sitting, and standing positions detects orthostatic hypotension, a fall risk in dehydrated older clients. This aligns with mobility safety assessment, making it the correct action to determine if the client is safe for independent ambulation.
Choice C reason: Serum potassium above 3.5 mEq/L ensures cardiac stability but doesn’t directly assess ambulation safety. Orthostatic changes are more relevant, making this incorrect, as it’s not the nurse’s primary focus for evaluating mobility in a dehydrated client.
Choice D reason: Radial and apical pulse consistency checks pacemaker function, not ambulation safety in dehydration. Blood pressure changes are critical, making this incorrect, as it’s unrelated to the nurse’s assessment of safe independent ambulation in the dehydrated older client.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: Assessing pain at the insertion site is important but less urgent than ensuring vascular patency post-catheterization. Checking pulses detects complications like occlusion, making this incorrect, as it’s secondary to the nurse’s priority of monitoring for vascular issues immediately post-procedure.
Choice B reason: Assessing dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses is most important to detect vascular complications, such as arterial occlusion, post-cardiac catheterization. This aligns with post-procedure protocols, making it the correct action to ensure limb perfusion and prevent serious complications immediately.
Choice C reason: Observing the access site for bleeding is key but secondary to ensuring distal perfusion via pulses. Vascular occlusion is a greater risk, making this incorrect, as it’s less urgent than the nurse’s priority of checking pulses post-cardiac catheterization.
Choice D reason: Checking capillary refill time assesses perfusion but is less specific than pulse assessment for detecting arterial issues post-catheterization. Pulses are the priority, making this incorrect, as it’s secondary to the nurse’s focus on immediate vascular integrity post-procedure.
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