Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 90%
Simulated
The nurse is caring for a client with suspected meningitis. Which priority action should the nurse take following a lumbar puncture (LP) procedure?
Correct answer
C
Rationale
Encouraging oral fluid intake (C) post-lumbar puncture helps prevent spinal headache and supports recovery. Assessing gag reflex (A) is unrelated, elevating the head (B) depends on provider orders, and BrudzinskiÔÇÖs sign (D) is assessed before the procedure to diagnose meningitis, not after.