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    Adult Health med surg proctored exam (Viterbo university)

    The nurse assesses a patient who experienced a spinal cord injury at the T5 level 24 hours ago. Assessment findings are:Temp: 99.0°FHR: 46 beats/minBP: 78/52 mmHgRR: 20 breaths/minSaO2: 94% on 2L NCWhich of the following interventions should the nurse anticipate?

    Explanation & Rationale

    Choice A reason: Suctioning the patient immediately is not the appropriate intervention in this context. Suctioning can be necessary if the patient has secretions obstructing the airway, but it does not address the issues of bradycardia (low heart rate) and hypotension (low blood pressure) which are critical in a spinal cord injury.Choice B reason: Administering normal saline (NS) at 25 cc/hr is not sufficient to address the patient's hypotension. In a patient with a spinal cord injury at the T5 level, hypotension is likely due to neurogenic shock, and more aggressive fluid resuscitation or pharmacological support is needed.Choice C reason: Raising the head of the bed is not appropriate for managing the patient's condition. In fact, keeping the head elevated can worsen hypotension by reducing venous return to the heart. The focus should be on stabilizing blood pressure and heart rate.Choice D reason: The correct intervention is starting a dopamine IV drip. Dopamine is a vasopressor that helps increase blood pressure and heart rate, which is crucial in managing neurogenic shock. By administering dopamine, the nurse can help stabilize the patient's cardiovascular status and improve perfusion to vital organs.

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