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Question

Difficulty: EasyBasic Care and Comfort

A client is transferred to the clinical unit after undergoing a lumbar puncture. Which resting position should the practical nurse encourage the client to maintain to minimize the risk of a spinal headache?

  1. Supine with the bed completely flatAnswer
  2. B
    Semi-Fowler's with the head elevated 45 degrees
  3. C
    Side-lying with the knees drawn tightly to the chest
  4. D
    Prone with a firm pillow placed under the abdomen

Answer

Supine with the bed completely flat
Following a lumbar puncture, the primary goal of positioning is to prevent a spinal headache, which occurs due to the leakage of cerebrospinal fluid from the puncture site. Keeping the client in a flat, supine position minimizes pressure and gravity at the site, reducing this leakage.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the procedure the client underwent.
The client had a lumbar puncture.
Different procedures require specific post-operative positioning to prevent complications and ensure comfort.
2
Determine the primary post-procedure complication associated with a lumbar puncture.
Spinal headache caused by the leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
Understanding the risk guides the appropriate nursing intervention for comfort and safety.
3
Select the position that minimizes this complication.
The supine (flat) position.
Lying flat reduces pressure on the dural puncture site, decreasing the likelihood of CSF leakage.

Key Concept

Post-procedure Positioning
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Topics

Basic Care and Comfort

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