Spinal Cord Injury Case Study (60 min)
Included In This Lesson
Study Tools For Spinal Cord Injury Case Study (60 min)
Outline
Mr. White is a 17 year old male who was injured in a snowboarding accident 3 weeks ago. He sustained a vertebral fracture and complete spinal cord injury at T7. His fracture has been stabilized with rods and screws. The plan is for him to be discharged home in 3 days with home health and family care.
Considering the level of the spinal cord injury, do you anticipate any concern for respiratory weakness?
What are the possible complications of a spinal cord injury?
The CNA reports to you that the bath has been completed, there was no BM or incontinence of urine. However, Mr. White’s blood pressure has risen to 189/100 with a heart rate of 56. You immediately go to the room to check on Mr. White.
What could be going on with Mr. White?
What things should you assess in order to determine the problem?
You note that Mr. White is warm to touch, his temp is 103.6°F. You palpate his abdomen, which is soft and nondistended throughout. His bladder is also nondistended. He tells you he’s starting to feel very anxious You ask the CNA to help you turn Mr. White and you find a washcloth had been left under his back.
What is going on with Mr. White, physiologically?
What medications might be ordered for Mr. White? What other nursing interventions should you include?
Together with the CNA, you remove the cloth, straighten Mr. White’s sheets, and make him comfortable. You provide a cool cloth for his forehead, and place a small ice pack under each armpit. You administer Nitroglycerin 0.4 mg SL as ordered. In 5 minutes you recheck and his BP has come down to 142/90, and his HR is 70. He reports his anxiety is decreasing and his temperature has come down to 100.6°F.
What would you discuss with the CNA to prevent this from recurring in the future?
What education will be required for Mr. White and his family on discharge to prevent complications?
NCLEX
Concepts Covered:
- Cardiovascular
- Emergency Care of the Cardiac Patient
- Cardiac Disorders
- Circulatory System
- Nervous System
- Skeletal System
- Shock
- Shock
- Disorders of the Posterior Pituitary Gland
- Endocrine
- Disorders of Pancreas
- Disorders of the Thyroid & Parathyroid Glands
- Hematology
- Gastrointestinal
- Upper GI Disorders
- Liver & Gallbladder Disorders
- Newborn Complications
- Lower GI Disorders
- Multisystem
- Neurological
- Central Nervous System Disorders – Brain
- Renal
- Respiratory
- Urinary System
- Respiratory System
- Noninfectious Respiratory Disorder
- Test Taking Strategies
- Note Taking
- Basics of NCLEX
- Prefixes
- Suffixes
- Medication Administration
- Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Respiratory Disorders
- Pregnancy Risks
- Labor Complications
- Hematologic Disorders
- Fundamentals of Emergency Nursing
- Factors Influencing Community Health
- Delegation
- Perioperative Nursing Roles
- EENT Disorders
- Basics of Chemistry
- Adult
- Emergency Care of the Neurological Patient
- Acute & Chronic Renal Disorders
- Emergency Care of the Respiratory Patient
- Respiratory Emergencies
- Studying
- Substance Abuse Disorders
- Disorders of the Adrenal Gland
- Behavior
- Documentation and Communication
- Preoperative Nursing
- Endocrine System
- Legal and Ethical Issues
- Communication
- Understanding Society
- Immunological Disorders
- Infectious Disease Disorders
- Oncology Disorders
- Female Reproductive Disorders
- Fetal Development
- Terminology
- Anxiety Disorders
- Cognitive Disorders
- Musculoskeletal Trauma
- Intraoperative Nursing
- Tissues and Glands
- Vascular Disorders
- Renal Disorders
- Eating Disorders
- Prenatal Concepts
- Microbiology
- Male Reproductive Disorders
- Sexually Transmitted Infections
- Infectious Respiratory Disorder
- Depressive Disorders
- Personality Disorders
- Psychotic Disorders
- Trauma-Stress Disorders
- Peripheral Nervous System Disorders
- Integumentary Disorders
- Neurologic and Cognitive Disorders
- Integumentary Disorders
- Newborn Care
- Basics of Mathematics
- Statistics
- Labor and Delivery
- Proteins
- Emergency Care of the Trauma Patient
- Hematologic System
- Hematologic Disorders
- Developmental Considerations
- Digestive System
- Urinary Disorders
- Postpartum Care
- Basic
- Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Bipolar Disorders
- Metabolism
- Cardiovascular Disorders
- Concepts of Population Health
- Musculoskeletal Disorders
- EENT Disorders
- Postpartum Complications
- Basics of Human Biology
- Postoperative Nursing
- Neurological Emergencies
- Prioritization
- Disorders of Thermoregulation
- Writing
- Community Health Overview
- Dosage Calculations
- Neurological Trauma
- Concepts of Mental Health
- Health & Stress
- Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
- Childhood Growth and Development
- Prenatal and Neonatal Growth and Development
- Concepts of Pharmacology
- Integumentary Important Points
- Emotions and Motivation
- Renal and Urinary Disorders
- Developmental Theories
- Reproductive System
- Adulthood Growth and Development
- Psychological Emergencies
- Growth & Development
- Basics of Sociology
- Somatoform Disorders
- Reading
- Intelligence and Language
- Oncologic Disorders
- Med Term Basic
- Med Term Whole
- Central Nervous System Disorders – Spinal Cord
- Muscular System
- Neonatal
- Learning Pharmacology
- Pediatric
- Psychological Disorders
- State of Consciousness
- Sensory System