Chapter 22

Care of Patients with Head and Spinal Cord Injuries

COMPLETION Head and Spinal Cord Injuries Directions: Fill in the blanks to complete the statements. 1. When intracranial bleeding occurs after a head injury, _______________________ rises. (543) 2. A closed head injury is one in which the _________________________ remain intact, but there is damage to the underlying _____________ tissue. (540) 3. After a head injury, all medical and nursing interventions are for the purpose of preventing or alleviating elevated ________________________________________. (543) 4. Autonomic dysreexia commonly occurs in patients whose injury is at or above the level of the ________________________________vertebra. (554) 5. A sudden change of position from supine to sitting or sitting to upright may cause __________________ __________________________________ in the patient with a spinal cord injury. (554) NCLEX-PN EXAM REVIEW Directions: Choose the best answer(s) for the following questions. 1. When assessing the level of consciousness in a patient, the nurse should be sure to: (524) 1. always repeat questions using the same words. 2. phrase questions so that they cannot be answered simply with a yes or no. 3. ask different questions every time the patient is assessed. 4. ask what room number the patient is in.

CHAPTER

22

Care of Patients with Head and Spinal Cord Injuries

Copyright 2009 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.

Chapter 22

Care of Patients with Head and Spinal Cord Injuries

MEETING CLINICAL OBJECTIVES 1. Seek assignment to a patient with a head injury who is has frequent observations ordered. Compare ndings over a 24-hour period and see if intracranial pressure is rising or falling. 2. Seek assignment to a patient who has a spinal cord injury. Learn how to properly transfer and position this patient. Communicate with the patient to nd out what problems are anticipated due to the injury. 3. Teach a patient or friend about measures to relieve low back pain. Include teaching for preventing further back injury or pain.

Copyright 2009 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.