Question

The experienced trauma nurse determines that the patient may have suffered a cervical spinal cord injury as the patient is unable to feel or move the arms or legs. Which term best describes the nurse's ability to make this conclusion?

Answer 1

The nurse is able to make the conclusion about the potential cervical spinal cord injury based on the patient's inability to feel or move their arms or legs.

Step-by-step explanation:

The ability of the experienced trauma nurse to determine that the patient may have suffered a cervical spinal cord injury is due to their knowledge of the sensory deficits associated with such an injury. Specifically, in the case of a cervical spinal cord injury, the nurse would recognize that the patient is unable to feel or move their arms or legs due to the interruption of nerve impulses between the brain and body. This paralysis is a common symptom of spinal cord injuries and can help the nurse make the conclusion about the potential injury.