The client with a closed head injury must be carefully monitored by the nurse because she could stop breathing or have inadequate respiratory effort due to what?
1. The accident that injured the head might also have injured the chest.
2. The client's reduced level of consciousness might cause the tongue to block the airway.
3. The respiratory control mechanism is in the brain, and increased cerebral edema could damage its function.
4. Closed head injuries mainly occur in very young children whose airways are very narrow and easily occluded.
3
Rationale: The client with a closed head injury must have respiratory function monitored very closely because the increasing intracranial pressure can reduce the ability of the respiratory center in the medulla to function.
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