A 14-year-old girl is in the intensive care unit after a spinal cord injury 2 days ago. Which nursing care interventions are needed for this child (Select all that apply)?
a. Monitoring and maintaining systemic blood pressure.
b. Administering corticosteroids.
c. Minimizing environmental stimuli.
d. Discussing long-term care issues with the family.
e. Monitoring for respiratory complications.
ANS: A, B, E
Spinal cord injury patients are physiologically labile, and close monitoring of blood pressure and respirations is required. They may be unstable for the first few weeks after the injury. Corticosteroids are administered to minimize the inflammation present with the injury. Minimizing environmental stimuli and discussing long-term care issues with the family do not apply to providing care for this patient.
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