A patient has a spinal tap to obtain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)to test for Alzheimer's disease (AD)markers.When planning care for this patient after the specimen is collected, a nurse's priority should be to:
A)Assist the family to make a decision about long-term placement for the patient.
B)Keep the patient NPO until able to sit up for meals.
C)Maintain the patient flat in bed for 8 hours or per institutional protocol.
D)Reassure the patient and family that early treatment for Alzheimer's disease can slow disease progression.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

After a spinal tap, it is important to maintain the patient flat in bed for 8 hours or per institutional protocol to avoid the risk of spinal headache. The other options are not the nurse's immediate priority at this time. Decision-making about long-term placement can be addressed at a later time, the patient's food intake can be resumed once the patient is able to sit up without risk of aspiration, and reassurance about treatment options can also be provided at a later time.

A Patient Has a Spinal Tap to Obtain Cerebrospinal Fluid