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?
22 Jan – 28 Feb
Concepts Covered:
- Cardiovascular
- Circulatory System
- Nervous System
- Skeletal System
- Emergency Care of the Cardiac Patient
- Neurological
- Respiratory
- Urinary System
- Respiratory System
- Endocrine System
- Studying
- Tissues and Glands
- Medication Administration
- Hematologic System
- Digestive System
- Reproductive System
- Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
- Muscular System
- Sensory System
- Basics of Human Biology
- Prefixes
- Suffixes
- Fetal Development
- Terminology
- Proteins
- Statistics
- Med Term Basic
- Med Term Whole
- Preoperative Nursing
- Integumentary Disorders
- Urinary Disorders
- Noninfectious Respiratory Disorder
- Cardiac Disorders
- Shock
- Shock
- Disorders of the Posterior Pituitary Gland
- Endocrine
- Disorders of Pancreas
- Disorders of the Thyroid & Parathyroid Glands
- Gastrointestinal
- Upper GI Disorders
- Liver & Gallbladder Disorders
- Lower GI Disorders
- Central Nervous System Disorders – Brain
- Hematologic Disorders
- Delegation
- Perioperative Nursing Roles
- Acute & Chronic Renal Disorders
- Respiratory Emergencies
- Disorders of the Adrenal Gland
- Documentation and Communication
- Legal and Ethical Issues
- Factors Influencing Community Health
- Immunological Disorders
- Oncology Disorders
- Female Reproductive Disorders
- Cognitive Disorders
- Musculoskeletal Trauma
- Intraoperative Nursing
- Vascular Disorders
- Renal Disorders
- Male Reproductive Disorders
- Sexually Transmitted Infections
- Infectious Respiratory Disorder
- Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Newborn Complications
- Peripheral Nervous System Disorders
- Communication
- Microbiology
- Emergency Care of the Trauma Patient
- Integumentary Disorders
- Musculoskeletal Disorders
- EENT Disorders
- Postoperative Nursing
- Neurological Emergencies
- Disorders of Thermoregulation
- Neurological Trauma
- Basics of NCLEX
- Fundamentals of Emergency Nursing
- Integumentary Important Points
- Multisystem
- Test Taking Strategies
- Emergency Care of the Neurological Patient
- Neurologic and Cognitive Disorders
- Central Nervous System Disorders – Spinal Cord
- Renal and Urinary Disorders
- Respiratory Disorders
- Infectious Disease Disorders
- EENT Disorders
- Emergency Care of the Respiratory Patient
- Adult
- Anxiety Disorders
- Depressive Disorders
- Dosage Calculations
- Understanding Society
- Concepts of Pharmacology
- Newborn Care
- Adulthood Growth and Development
- Pregnancy Risks
- Postpartum Complications
- Substance Abuse Disorders
- Bipolar Disorders
- Learning Pharmacology
- Psychotic Disorders
- Prenatal Concepts