The nurse is caring for a patient undergoing a lumbar puncture by the provider. Select the priority nursing intervention the nurse would complete after the procedure.

Choice A reason: Encouraging intake of favorite foods to increase weight and promote normal growth is an important nursing goal for a child with leukemia, but it is not the priority. Chemotherapy can cause nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite, which can affect the child's nutritional status and growth. However, these effects can be managed with antiemetics, supplements, and small frequent meals.

Choice B reason: Utilizing approaches to minimize risk of infection and bleeding episodes is the priority nursing goal for a child with leukemia. Chemotherapy can cause bone marrow suppression, which reduces the production of white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. This increases the risk of infection, anemia, and bleeding, which can be life-threatening. Therefore, the nurse should monitor the child's blood counts, vital signs, and signs of infection or bleeding, and implement preventive measures such as hand hygiene, isolation, and transfusions.

Choice C reason: Providing age-appropriate activities to promote optimum cognitive and motor skills development is an important nursing goal for a child with leukemia, but it is not the priority. Chemotherapy can cause fatigue, weakness, and neuropathy, which can affect the child's physical and mental abilities. However, these effects can be managed with rest, pain relief, and stimulation.

Choice D reason: Providing emotional support for the child and family members that relieve stress is an important nursing goal for a child with leukemia, but it is not the priority. Chemotherapy can cause anxiety, depression, and fear, which can affect the child's psychological and emotional well-being. However, these effects can be managed with counseling, education, and coping strategies.

Choice A reason: Assessment of arms and legs movement is an important part of the neurological assessment, but it is not the critical focus of care for a patient with a spinal cord injury at the cervical 5 vertebra. This level of injury affects the phrenic nerve, which controls the diaphragm and breathing. The patient may have difficulty breathing or require mechanical ventilation.

Choice B reason: Evaluation of knee jerk reflex is not the critical focus of care for a patient with a spinal cord injury at the cervical 5 vertebra. The knee jerk reflex is controlled by the spinal cord segments L2-L4, which are below the level of injury. The patient may have normal or exaggerated reflexes, depending on the extent of the spinal cord damage.

Choice C reason: Measurement of vital signs is a routine part of the nursing care, but it is not the critical focus of care for a patient with a spinal cord injury at the cervical 5 vertebra. The patient may have abnormal vital signs due to the injury, such as low blood pressure, slow heart rate, or irregular temperature. However, these are not as life-threatening as respiratory failure.

Choice D reason: Evaluation of respiratory status is the critical focus of care for a patient with a spinal cord injury at the cervical 5 vertebra. The patient is at high risk of respiratory compromise due to the impairment of the phrenic nerve and the diaphragm. The nurse should monitor the patient's oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, depth, and rhythm, and provide oxygen therapy or mechanical ventilation as needed. The nurse should also assess the patient for signs of respiratory infection, such as fever, cough, or sputum.