What should the nurse do to reduce the incidence of postural hypotension in a patient with a spinal cord injury?
a. Monitor diastolic blood pressure closely
b. Encourage the patient to remain in the bed
c. Raise the head of the bed for 15 to 20 minutes before transfer to a wheelchair
d. Encourage adequate intake of fluids to expand fluid volume
ANS: C
Raising the head of the bed before transfer allows for gradual vessel accommodation from the supine position to the upright position. It is important to check the patient's blood pressure, but it will not reduce the incidence of postural hypotension. It is important to encourage the patient to get out of bed. Postural hypotension is related to a pooling of blood in the lower extremities and is not related to a fluid volume deficit.
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