A nurse is caring for a client with a T4 spinal cord injury who suddenly reports a severe, pounding headache. Assessment reveals profuse diaphoresis above the level of the injury, a blood pressure of 210/115 mm Hg, and a heart rate of 54 bpm. Arrange the following nursing interventions in the correct priority sequence, from first to last.
- 1Place the client in a high Fowler's position.
- 2Assess the indwelling urinary catheter tubing for kinks or obstruction.
- 3Examine the rectum for fecal impaction using an anesthetic ointment.
- 4Administer the prescribed PRN rapid-acting antihypertensive medication.
Cevap
The correct sequence is: Place the client in a high Fowler's position, assess the urinary catheter for kinks, examine the rectum for impaction, and finally administer the prescribed antihypertensive medication.
The correct sequence prioritizes immediate physiological safety by inducing orthostatic hypotension through upright positioning, followed by a systematic assessment to eliminate the most common noxious stimuli (bladder then bowel), and finally utilizing pharmacological intervention if the stimulus cannot be resolved.
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Anahtar Kavram
Autonomic dysreflexia is a life-threatening emergency in clients with spinal cord injuries at or above T6, requiring immediate upright positioning followed by the identification and removal of noxious stimuli (usually bladder or bowel).