A nurse is caring for a client who has quadriplegia due to a spinal cord injury and reports having a severe headache. The nurse obtains a blood pressure reading of 210/108 mm Hg and suspects the client is experiencing autonomic dysreflexia. What should the nurse prioritize as the initial action?
Lower the client's legs.
Check for a full bladder.
Administer a nitrate antihypertensive.
Administer pain medication.
The Correct Answer is B
A. Lowering the client's legs is not effective in managing autonomic dysreflexia and may not alleviate the cause of the high blood pressure.
B. Checking for a full bladder is the priority because bladder distension is a common trigger for autonomic dysreflexia in clients with spinal cord injuries, and relieving it can reduce the severe hypertensive response.
C. Antihypertensives may be used if non-pharmacological measures fail, but addressing the cause is the first action.
D. Pain medication is not indicated as the immediate intervention for autonomic dysreflexia, as the priority is identifying and removing the trigger.
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Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Profound hypocalcemia is not associated with hyperthyroidism; it is more common in hypoparathyroidism.
B. Thyroid Storm is a life-threatening complication of hyperthyroidism, characterized by high fever, tachycardia, hypertension, and altered mental status. It requires immediate medical intervention to prevent serious outcomes.
C. Diabetes Insipidus is unrelated to hyperthyroidism and typically occurs due to antidiuretic hormone dysfunction.
D. Severe hypotension is not a typical complication of hyperthyroidism; rather, hypertension is more likely due to increased metabolic rate and cardiac output.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Miotic medications work by constricting the pupil, which opens the trabecular meshwork and facilitates the drainage of aqueous humor, thus lowering intraocular pressure in clients with glaucoma.
B. Miotics do not dilate the pupil; they constrict it. Dilation would actually increase intraocular pressure, which is not therapeutic in glaucoma.
C. While these medications do affect eye muscles, they do not specifically prevent blurred vision; their primary effect is on eye pressure.
D. Miotics do not block nerve responses; they work by direct action on the eye muscles to promote fluid drainage and reduce pressure.