Nurse in Psychiatry Test Bank Related

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A nurse administers pure oxygen to a client during and after electroconvulsive therapy. What is the nurse’s rationale for this procedure?

  • A. To prevent increased intracranial pressure resulting from anoxia
  • B. To prevent anoxia due to medication-induced paralysis of respiratory muscles
  • C. To prevent hypotension, bradycardia, and bradypnea due to electrical stimulation
  • D. To prevent blocked airway resulting from seizure activity
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: To prevent anoxia due to medication-induced paralysis of respiratory muscles. During electroconvulsive therapy, muscle relaxants are often used to prevent injury during the seizure. These medications can lead to paralysis of respiratory muscles, causing potential anoxia if oxygen is not administered. Providing pure oxygen ensures adequate oxygenation despite muscle paralysis.

Incorrect Choices:
A: Preventing increased intracranial pressure is not the primary rationale for administering oxygen during ECT.
C: Hypotension, bradycardia, and bradypnea are potential side effects of ECT itself, but oxygen administration is not primarily to prevent these.
D: Oxygen is not administered to prevent a blocked airway but rather to ensure adequate oxygenation during muscle paralysis.