Select the action by the nurse that best helps reduce intracranial pressure in a client who sustained a head injury after a diving accident.
A)Use a manual respirator (ambu-bag) to hyperventilate the client.
B)Have the client breathe slowly into a paper bag.
C)Administer 1 amp of sodium bicarbonate intravenously slowly.
D)Maintain the client in a supine position.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Using a manual respirator (ambu-bag) to hyperventilate the client can help reduce intracranial pressure by decreasing carbon dioxide levels in the blood, which causes vasoconstriction and helps reduce cerebral blood volume. Slow breathing (option B) and administering sodium bicarbonate (option C) are not effective in reducing intracranial pressure. Maintaining the client in a supine position (option D) can actually increase intracranial pressure.

Select the Action by the Nurse That Best Helps Reduce