Question

Difficulty: MediumAccident, Error, and Injury Prevention

A nurse is admitting a client who has a history of frequent, uncontrolled generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Which of the following interventions should the nurse implement to promote accident and injury prevention? (Select all that apply.)

  1. Verify that functioning suction equipment and supplemental oxygen are available at the bedside.Answer
  2. B
    Delegate the initial assessment of the client's environmental safety to the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP).
  3. Apply padding to the bed's side rails to protect the client from impact.Answer
  4. D
    Keep a padded tongue blade at the bedside to insert into the client's mouth during a seizure.
  5. Keep the client's bed in the lowest position with the wheels locked.Answer
  6. F
    Restrain the client's extremities during active seizure activity to prevent musculoskeletal injury.

Answer

The correct interventions for seizure precautions are verifying the presence of functioning oxygen and suction equipment, applying padding to the side rails, and keeping the bed in the lowest locked position.
Safe and effective seizure precautions involve altering the environment to prevent injury during involuntary movements. Maintaining the bed in the lowest position with locked wheels reduces fall-related injuries. Padding the side rails protects the client from blunt force trauma. Having supplemental oxygen and functioning suction readily available at the bedside is critical to manage the airway and clear secretions immediately following the seizure.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Evaluate the client's clinical presentation and diagnosis.
The client has a history of frequent, uncontrolled generalized tonic-clonic seizures.
Identifying the primary seizure risk establishes the need for comprehensive environmental safety measures to prevent traumatic injury and aspiration.
2
Analyze each proposed intervention for its appropriateness in promoting safety during a seizure.
Oxygen/suction availability, padded side rails, and a low/locked bed actively prevent secondary injury and manage immediate complications. Applying restraints and inserting objects into the mouth are actively harmful. Initial nursing assessments cannot be delegated.
Seizure precautions aim to protect the client from trauma and maintain airway patency without causing iatrogenic harm or violating the nursing scope of practice.
3
Select all options that represent evidence-based, safe seizure precautions.
The correct safety interventions are selected.
This directly fulfills the objective of accident and injury prevention for a high-risk neurological client.

Key Concept

Standard seizure precautions focus on preventing traumatic injury and ensuring airway safety without restricting the client's movements or introducing objects into the oral cavity.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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