The nurse is caring for a patient 3 days following a complete cervical spine injury at the C3 level. The patient is in spinal shock. Following emergent intubation and mechanical ventilation, what is the priority nursing action?

a. Maintain body temperature.
b. Monitor blood pressure.
c. Pad all bony prominences.
d. Use proper hand washing.


B
Maintaining perfusion to the spinal cord is critical in the management of spinal cord injury. Monitoring blood pressure is a priority.

Nursing

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A patient states, "There is no hope. They're going to keep me here until I die. Can't you give me my medication more often? I'm going to die anyway." In which stage of illness is this patient?

a. Disbelief and denial b. Irritability and anger c. Attempting to gain control d. Depression and grief

Nursing

A patient is describing how he thinks others see him. This is a description of the patient's

A) self-awareness B) social self C) self-concept D) self-perception

Nursing

CNS ___________, including barbiturates, inhalants and benzodiazepines all have effects similar to alcohol.

Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).

Nursing

Adopting which strategy would be helpful in reducing recency error in staff appraisals?

1. Being careful not to overrate employees 2. Evaluating each behavior separately and fairly 3. Carefully defining performance standards 4. Recording critical incidents as they occur

Nursing