The nurse is caring for a client who was admitted 24 hours previously with a C5 spinal cord injury. Which of the following nursing actions has the highest priority?
A)Assessment of respiratory rate and depth
B)Continuous cardiac monitoring for bradycardia
C)Application of pneumatic compression devices to both legs
D)Administration of methylprednisolone infusion

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Edema around the area of injury may lead to damage above the C4 level, so the highest priority is assessment of the client's respiratory function. The other actions also are appropriate but are not as important as assessment of respiratory effort.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Client Who Was Admitted