A nurse is caring for a client with a spinal cord injury from a motorcycle accident. The nurse is instructing on the benefits of stem cell transplantation therapy. Which statement(s) should the nurse include in the teaching? Select all that apply.
- A. Cells in the spinal cord may regenerate spontaneously when injured.
- B. Stem cells can cause the damaged spinal nerves to repair themselves.
- C. Stems cells can be harvested from an individual's own bone marrow.
- D. Harvested stem cells can be reimplanted into the area surrounding the injury.
- E. Stem cells can replace the damaged nerve cells when they are transplanted.
Correct Answer: C,D,E
Rationale: When teaching the client about the benefits of stem cell transplantation therapy, the nurse should explain how stem cells are used to treat a spinal cord injury. In particular, the education should emphasize that stem cells are harvested from the client's own bone marrow and can be reimplanted into the area surrounding the injury, replacing the damaged nerve cells when they are transplanted. The spinal cord loses the ability to regenerate when injured, and stem cells replace the injured spinal nerves rather than causing them to repair themselves, so the nurse would be incorrect to include these statements when discussing the therapy with the client.
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The nurse is caring for a postoperative client who had surgery to decrease intracranial pressure after suffering a head injury. Which assessment finding is promptly reported to the physician?
- A. The client has periorbital edema and ecchymosis.
- B. The client's vital signs are temperature, 100.9?°F; heart rate, 88 beats/minute; respiratory rate, 18 breaths/minute; and blood pressure, 138/80 mm Hg.
- C. The client's level of consciousness has improved.
- D. The client prefers to rest in the semi-Fowler's position.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The assessment finding promptly reported to the physician is the information which may cause complications. It is important to report the elevation in client temperature (100.9?°F) because hyperthermia increases brain metabolism, increasing the potential for brain damage. It is not unusual for the client to experience periorbital edema and ecchymosis secondary to the head injury and surgery. Improved level of consciousness is a positive outcome of the treatment provided. There is no complication related to semi-Fowler's position.
The nursing instructor is teaching about hematomas to a pre-nursing pathophysiology class. What would the nursing instructor describe as an arterial bleed with rapid neurologic deterioration?
- A. Extradural hematoma
- B. Epidural hematoma
- C. Subdural hematoma
- D. Intracranial hematoma
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An epidural hematoma stems from arterial bleeding, usually from the middle meningeal artery, and blood accumulation above the dura. It is characterized by rapidly progressive neurologic deterioration.
A middle-aged client has scheduled a sick visit to the physician's office, reporting symptoms of lower back pain with exacerbation upon movement. The nurse draws a picture of the components of the spinal cord and surrounding structures and shows potential causes of the pain. Which area of the drawing would the nurse emphasize?
- A. Spinal cord pathway
- B. Nucleus pulposus
- C. Bony vertebrae
- D. Associated musculature
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Pressure on the spinal nerve roots result from trauma, herniated disks, and tumors. The nurse would emphasize the nucleus pulposus as a common area of problem. Stress caused by poor body mechanics, age, or disease weakens an area in the vertebra, causing the spongy center of the vertebra, the nucleus pulposus, to swell and herniate. The spinal cord pathway can cause symptoms of numbness and tingling. The bony vertebrae can present symptoms when fractures and bony fragments occur. Associated musculature pulling can place the vertebrae out of alignment causing symptoms.
A nurse is reviewing a CT scan of the brain, which shows that the client has arterial bleeding with blood accumulation above the dura. Which of the following facts of the disease progression is essential to guide the nursing management of client care?
- A. Symptoms will evolve over a period of 1 week.
- B. Monitoring is needed as rapid neurologic deterioration may occur.
- C. The crash cart with defibrillator is kept nearby.
- D. Bleeding continues into the intracerebral area.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse identifies that the CT scan suggests an epidural hematoma. A key component in planning care is the understanding that rapid neurologic deterioration occurs. Symptoms evolve quickly. A crash cart may be kept nearby, but this is not the key information. An intracerebral hematoma is bleeding within the brain, which is a different area of bleeding.
The nurse is caring for a client with a spinal cord injury. What test reveals the level of spinal cord injury?
- A. Radiography
- B. Myelography
- C. Neurologic examination
- D. Computed tomography (CT) scan
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A neurologic examination reveals the level of spinal cord injury. Radiography, myelography, and a CT scan show the evidence of fracture or compression of one or more vertebrae, edema, or a hematoma.
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