A patient is admitted with injuries sustained in a fall. During the nurse's first assessment upon admission, the findings are: blood pressure 90/60 (as compared to 136/66 in the emergency department), flaccid paralysis on the right, absent bowel sounds, zero urine output, and palpation of a distended bladder. The nurse realizes that these findings are consistent with which condition?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms described, such as flaccid paralysis, absent bowel sounds, zero urine output, and a distended bladder, alongside a significant drop in blood pressure, are indicative of spinal shock. Spinal shock is a condition that can occur after a spinal injury, leading to temporary loss of reflex function below the level of injury, including motor, sensory, and autonomic control.

A Patient Is Admitted with Injuries Sustained in a Fall