Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 81%
Simulated
A patient presents to the emergency department with a cervical spinal cord injury immediately after a motor vehicle crash. What should the nurse explain to the family as the reason for the patient being placed on mechanical ventilation? The:
Correct answer
C
Rationale
The nerves that control lung function may be injured in a cervical spinal cord injury, particularly at higher levels like C3-C5, leading to respiratory muscle paralysis and necessitating mechanical ventilation.