Author Question: While caring for a patient with a spinal cord injury (SCI), the nurse elevates the head of the bed, ... (Read 118 times)

jeatrice · **on:** Jun 25, 2018

While caring for a patient with a spinal cord injury (SCI), the nurse elevates the head of the bed, removes compression stockings,

and continues to assess vital signs every 2 to 3 minutes while searching for the cause in order to prevent loss of consciousness or death. By practicing these interventions, the nurse is avoiding the most dangerous complication of autonomic dysreflexia, which is what condition?

1. hypoxia
2. bradycardia
3. elevated blood pressure
4. tachycardia

Question 2

A patient with a spinal cord injury is recovering from spinal shock. The nurse realizes that the patient should not develop a full bladder because what emergency condition can occur if it is not corrected quickly?

1. autonomic dysreflexia
2. autonomic crisis
3. autonomic shutdown
4. autonomic failure

leahchrapun · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 25, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 3

Autonomic dysreflexia is an emergency that requires immediate assessment and intervention to prevent complications of extremely high blood pressure. Hypoxia, bradycardia, and tachycardia are not the most dangerous complications of autonomic dysreflexia.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 1
Autonomic dysreflexia is triggered by stimuli that would normally cause abdominal discomfort, by stimulation of pain receptors, and by visceral contractions. The most common cause is a full bladder. Autonomic crisis, autonomic shutdown, and autonomic failure are not terms used to describe common complications of spinal injury associated with bladder distention.