The nurse is caring for a client who has undergone a cataract extraction and during the early postoperative period is complaining of nausea and severe eye pain over the operative site. What should be the initial nursing action?
Turn the client onto their operative side.
Administer the prescribed pain medication and antiemetic.
Call the surgeon.
Reassure the client that this is normal.
The Correct Answer is B
A. Turning the client onto their operative side could increase pressure on the eye and is not an appropriate first action.
B. Administering prescribed pain medication and antiemetic is essential to address the client's severe pain and nausea, which are priority concerns in the postoperative period.
C. While it may be necessary to notify the surgeon if symptoms persist, the immediate priority is to alleviate the client's discomfort.
D. Reassuring the client that these symptoms are normal is misleading; severe pain and nausea postoperatively should be addressed promptly.
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Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. The supine position can increase ICP and is not recommended for clients with elevated ICP.
B. Instructing the client to pull themselves up may increase ICP due to straining.
C. Log rolling helps maintain spinal alignment and minimizes abrupt head movement, which is essential in managing ICP.
D. Sitting with legs dangling may cause a sudden shift in intracranial pressure and is not advised for these clients.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. The primary purpose of administering an osmotic diuretic, such as mannitol, is to lower ICP by promoting diuresis, which results in increased urinary output and decreases fluid volume in the brain.
B. Osmotic diuretics do not specifically reduce cerebral blood flow; rather, they work by reducing fluid volume and thus intracranial pressure.
C. While osmotic diuretics can help manage edema, their primary role is not solely to prevent the formation of cerebral edema but to actively reduce existing pressure.
D. Osmotic diuretics do not directly decrease brain oxygen consumption; their main function is to create an osmotic gradient that pulls fluid from the brain to reduce ICP.