You are caring for a patient in the ED who came in after a hard tackle in a football game. The x-rays show that he has a fracture of 2 ribs on the right side. Which intervention will the nurse expect for this patient?
Mechanical ventilation
Prepare for a chest tube
Needle decompression
Intercostal nerve block for pain management
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A reason:
Mechanical ventilation is not typically required for patients with rib fractures unless there is severe respiratory compromise or other underlying issues that necessitate ventilatory support.
Choice B reason:
Preparing for a chest tube is not generally required for isolated rib fractures unless there is an associated pneumothorax or hemothorax. Chest tubes are used to manage complications that involve air or blood in the pleural space.
Choice C reason:
Needle decompression is performed in emergencies to relieve tension pneumothorax. This procedure is not indicated for simple rib fractures without evidence of a tension pneumothorax.
Choice D reason:
An intercostal nerve block for pain management is an appropriate intervention for a patient with rib fractures. It helps control pain, allowing the patient to breathe deeply and cough effectively, which is important for preventing complications such as pneumonia.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason:
Elevating the head of the bed and notifying the provider is the correct initial action when a patient with a spinal cord lesion at T4 experiences a significantly elevated blood pressure (190/100), headache, and flushing. These symptoms suggest autonomic dysreflexia, a potentially life-threatening condition that requires immediate intervention. Elevating the head of the bed helps to lower blood pressure, and notifying the provider ensures that further medical treatment can be administered promptly.
Choice B reason:
Administering PRN Tylenol for the patient's headache is not the appropriate first action in this scenario. While Tylenol may help with the headache, it does not address the underlying cause of the elevated blood pressure and autonomic dysreflexia. Immediate intervention to lower blood pressure is critical to prevent complications.
Choice C reason:
Rechecking all of the patient's vital signs is important but not the priority action in this situation. The nurse should first take measures to lower the blood pressure and address the symptoms of autonomic dysreflexia by elevating the head of the bed and notifying the provider. Monitoring vital signs can be done concurrently, but it should not delay the immediate intervention required.
Choice D reason:
Elevating the patient's knees and lowering the head of the bed is contraindicated in this situation. Lowering the head of the bed can further increase intracranial pressure and exacerbate symptoms of autonomic dysreflexia. The proper position to help reduce blood pressure is to elevate the head of the bed.
Correct Answer is ["83"]
Explanation
To calculate the infusion rate, divide the total volume of fluid to be infused by the total time over which the infusion should occur.
\(\frac{330 \text{ mL}}{4 \text{ hours}} = 82.5 \text{ mL/hr}\)
Rounding to the nearest whole number, the nurse should set the pump to deliver 83 mL/hr.
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