Practice Question
A client experiences symptoms of flushing and sweating above the level of a spinal injury, high blood pressure, slow heart rate, and a cool pallor below the level of a spinal injury. Which of the following complications is most likely?
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
Autonomic dysreflexia
Rationale:
💎 Autonomic dysreflexia is a life-threatening emergency that occurs in clients with spinal cord injuries at or above the T6 level.
💎 It is triggered by noxious stimuli below the level of injury—such as a full bladder, fecal impaction, or tight clothing—that the brain cannot sense due to disrupted nerve pathways.
💎 This results in an uncontrolled sympathetic response, causing severe hypertension, bradycardia, flushing, sweating, and headache above the level of injury, with cool, pale skin below due to vasoconstriction.
💎 Immediate nursing interventions include raising the head of the bed, removing the triggering stimulus, and notifying the provider to prevent stroke or seizure from the dangerously high blood pressure.
Want to practice more questions like this?
This question is from Examplify NR283 Quiz 3a BSNOL SEPT25 which contains 19 questions.
More Questions from This Exam
What type of anemia is caused by lack of intrinsic factor?
Answer Choices:
Which of the following is/are effective interventions to prevent complications of immobility? (Select all that apply)
Answer Choices:
Which client/s are at risk for poor perfusion? (select all that apply)
Answer Choices:
Question Details
- Category: RN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: Examplify Exam(s)
- Domain: Medical-Surgical
- Answer Choices: 4