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Difficulty: MediumBasic Care and Comfort

An adolescent client is resting in a clinic observation room immediately following a diagnostic lumbar puncture. To minimize the risk of a post-procedure headache and promote comfort, which position should the nurse maintain the client in?

  1. Supine with the bed completely flat.Answer
  2. B
    Side-lying with the knees drawn tightly to the chest.
  3. C
    Semi-Fowler's position with the head of the bed elevated 45 degrees.
  4. D
    High-Fowler's position while leaning forward on an overbed table.

Answer

Supine with the bed completely flat.
Following a lumbar puncture, maintaining the client in a flat, supine position for several hours is a standard standard nursing intervention. This flat alignment prevents a rapid decrease in cerebrospinal fluid pressure at the dural puncture site, thereby significantly reducing the likelihood that the client will develop a debilitating spinal headache.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the specific procedure the client just underwent.
The client had a diagnostic lumbar puncture.
Different diagnostic procedures require specific postoperative positioning to prevent targeted complications.
2
Recall the most common and significant complication associated with this procedure.
A post-lumbar puncture headache (spinal headache) caused by the continued leakage of cerebrospinal fluid from the puncture site.
Understanding the potential complication directly dictates the prophylactic care required.
3
Determine the correct body position to minimize this specific risk.
A flat position keeps cerebrospinal fluid pressure evenly distributed, minimizing leakage.
Evidence-based practice requires keeping the client supine and flat for a prescribed period following the puncture.

Key Concept

Post-Procedure Positioning: Lumbar Puncture
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Topics

Basic Care and Comfort

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