Author Question: Following a cauda equina spinal cord injury, which action will the nurse include in the plan of ... (Read 61 times)

2125004343 · **on:** Jun 25, 2018

Following a cauda equina spinal cord injury, which action will the nurse include in the plan of care?

a. Catheterize patient every 3 to 4 hours.
b. Assist patient to ambulate several times daily.
c. Administer medications to reduce bladder spasm.
d. Stabilize the neck when repositioning the patient.

Question 2

A nurse who works on the neurology unit just received change-of-shift report. Which patient will the nurse assess first?

a. Patient with botulism who is experiencing difficulty swallowing
b. Patient with Bell's palsy who has herpes vesicles in front of the ear
c. Patient with neurosyphilis who has tabes dorsalis and decreased deep tendon reflexes
d. Patient with an abscess caused by injectable drug use who needs tetanus immune globulin

skipfourms123 · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 25, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A
Patients with cauda equina syndrome have areflexic bladder, and intermittent catheterization will be used for emptying the bladder. Because the bladder is flaccid, antispasmodic medications will not be used. The legs are flaccid with cauda equina syndrome and the patient will be unable to ambulate. The head and neck will not need to be stabilized following a cauda equina injury, which affects the lumbar and sacral nerve roots.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: A
The patient's diagnosis and difficulty swallowing indicate that the nurse should rapidly assess for respiratory distress. The information about the other patients is consistent with their diagnoses and does not indicate any immediate need for assessment or intervention.