lippincott SCI 213

A nurse is caring for a patient who is exhibiting signs and symptoms of autonomic dysreflexia. What clinical manifestations would the nurse expect in this patient?

Bradycardia and hypertension Autonomic dysreflexia is characterized by a pounding headache, profuse sweating, nasal congestion, piloerection ("goose bumps"), bradycardia, and hypertension. It may occur in cord lesions above T6 after spinal shock has resolved.

Which activities would the client with a T4 spinal cord injury be able to perform independently? Select all that apply. Eating Breathing Ambulating Transferring to a wheelchair Writing

Eating Breathing Transferring to a wheelchair Writing Eating, breathing, transferring to a wheelchair, and writing are functional abilities for those with a T4 injury. Ambulation can be performed independently by a client with an injury at T11-S5 injury.

A client with a spinal cord injury says he has difficulty recognizing the symptoms of urinary tract infection (UTI). Which symptom is an early sign of UTI in a client with a spinal cord injury?

Fever and change in urine clarity Fever and change in urine clarity as early signs of UTI in a client with a spinal cord injury. Lower back pain is a late sign. A client with a spinal cord injury may not experience a burning sensation or urinary frequency.

The nurse is assigned to care for clients with SCI on a rehabilitation unit. Which signs does the nurse recognize as clinical manifestations of autonomic dysreflexia? Select all that apply. Hypertension Tachycardia Fever Diaphoresis Nasal congestion

Hypertension Diaphoresis Nasal Congestion Hypertension and diaphoresis are signs of autonomic dysreflexia. Nasal congestion often accompanies autonomic dysreflexia. Bradycardia, not tachycardia, occurs with autonomic dysreflexia. Although the client may be diaphoretic, a fever does not accompany this condition.

Three hours after injuring the spinal cord at the C6 level, a client receives high doses of methylprednisolone sodium succinate (Solu-Medrol) to suppress breakdown of the neurologic tissue membrane at the injury site. To help prevent adverse effects of this drug, the nurse expects the physician to order:

famotidine (Pepcid). Adverse effects of methylprednisolone sodium succinate and other steroids include GI bleeding and wound infection. To help prevent GI bleeding, the physician is likely to order an antacid or a histamine2-receptor antagonist such as famotidine (Pepcid). Naloxone, nitroglycerin, and atracurium aren't used to prevent adverse effects of steroids. Naloxone, an endogenous opioid antagonist, has been studied in animals for its action in inhibiting release of endogenous opioids after spinal cord injury. (Endogenous opioids are thought to contribute to secondary damage to spinal cord tissue by reducing microcirculatory blood flow.) Nitroglycerin is used to dilate the coronary arteries. Atracurium is a nondepolarizing muscle relaxant.

A nurse is caring for a client with L1-L2 paraplegia who is undergoing rehabilitation. Which goal is appropriate?

Establishing an intermittent catheterization routine every 4 hours The paraplegic client with an L1-L2 injury will demonstrate flaccid paralysis. Developing an intermittent catheterization routine offers a way of manually draining the bladder, eliminating the need for an indwelling urinary catheter. With an injury at L1-L2, ambulation may be possible with long leg braces but not with short leg braces. Spasticity and autonomic dysreflexia are seen in clients with upper motor injuries above T6, not L1-L2 injuries.

After a motor vehicle crash, a client is admitted to the medical-surgical unit with a cervical collar in place. The cervical spinal X-rays haven't been read, so the nurse doesn't know whether the client has a cervical spinal injury. Until such an injury is ruled out, the nurse should restrict this client to which position?

Flat, except for logrolling as needed When caring for the client with a possible cervical spinal injury who's wearing a cervical collar, the nurse must keep the client flat to decrease mobilization and prevent further injury to the spinal column. The client can be logrolled, if necessary, with the cervical collar on.

A client is admitted with a cervical spine injury sustained during a diving accident. When planning this client's care, the nurse should assign highest priority to which nursing diagnosis?

Ineffective breathing pattern Because a cervical injuspinery can cause respiratory distress, the nurse should take immediate action to maintain a patent airway and provide adequate oxygenation. Impaired physical mobility, Disturbed sensory perception (tactile), and Dressing or grooming self-care deficit may be appropriate for a client with a spinal cord injury — particularly during the course of recovery — but they don't take precedence over a diagnosis of Ineffective breathing pattern.

The nurse is caring for a client who has sustained a spinal cord injury (SCI) at C5 and has developed a paralytic ileus. The nurse will prepare the client for which of the following procedures?

Insertion of a nasogastric tube Immediately after a SCI, a paralytic ileus usually develops. A nasogastric tube is often required to relieve distention and to prevent vomiting and aspiration. An enema and digital stimulation will not relieve a paralytic ileus. Bowel surgery is not necessary.

Autonomic dysreflexia can occur with spinal cord injuries above which of the following levels?

T6 Any patient with a lesion above T6 segment is informed that autonomic dysreflexia can occur and that it may occur even years after the initial injury.

The nurse is planning to provide education about prevention in the community YMCA due to the increase in numbers of spinal cord injuries (SCIs). What predominant risk factors does the nurse understand will have to be addressed? Select all that apply. Young age Male gender Older adult Substance abuse Low income community

Young age Male gender Substance abuse The predominant risk factors for SCI include young age, male gender, and alcohol and drug use.

A client is being treated for a lumbar spinal injury that occurred 5 days ago and is currently experiencing the symptoms of spinal shock. Characteristic for this condition, the client is unable to move the lower extremities, is being closely monitored for hypotension and bradycardia, and has impaired temperature control. Which would not be an expected outcome of care?

client maintains mechanical ventilation with minimal mucus accumulation A client with a lumbar spinal injury would not require mechanical ventilation.

A client with spinal cord injury is ready to be discharged home. A family member asks the nurse to review potential complications one more time. What are the potential complications that should be monitored for in this client? Select all that apply. Orthostatic hypotension Autonomic dysreflexia DVT Salt-wasting syndrome Increased ICP

Orthostatic hypotension Autonomic dysreflexia DVT For a spinal cord-injured client, based on the assessment data, potential complications that may develop include DVT, orthostatic hypotension, and autonomic dysreflexia. Salt-wasting syndrome and increased ICP are not typical complications following the immediate recovery period.

A patient with a C7 spinal cord fracture informs the nurse, "My head is killing me!" The nurse assesses a blood pressure of 210/140 mm Hg, heart rate of 48 and observes diaphoresis on the face. What is the first action by the nurse?

Place the patient in a sitting position. Autonomic dysreflexia, also known as autonomic hyperreflexia, is an acute life-threatening emergency that occurs as a result of exaggerated autonomic responses to stimuli that are harmless in normal people. It occurs only after spinal shock has resolved. This syndrome is characterized by a severe, pounding headache with paroxysmal hypertension, profuse diaphoresis (most often of the forehead), nausea, nasal congestion, and bradycardia. It occurs among patients with cord lesions above T6 (the sympathetic visceral outflow level) after spinal shock has subsided (Bader & Littlejohns, 2010). The patient is placed immediately in a sitting position to lower blood pressure.

Which of the following are the immediate complications of spinal cord injury? Respiratory arrest Tetraplegia Spinal Shock Paraplegia Autonomic dysreflexia

Respiratory arrest Spinal Shock Respiratory arrest and spinal shock are the immediate complications of spinal cord injury. Tetraplegia is paralysis of all extremities when there is a high cervical spine injury. Paraplegia occurs with injuries at the thoracic level. Autonomic dysreflexia is a long-term complication of spinal cord injury.