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An elderly patient is confined to bedrest following cervical spine surgery to treat nerve pinching. The nurse is vigilant about turning the patient and assessing the patient regularly to prevent the formation of pressure ulcers. What type of agent is the stimulus for pressure ulcers? 1) Mechanical 2) Thermal 3) Chemical 4) Electrical

User Anka
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Final answer:

The stimulus for pressure ulcer formation is mechanical. Pressure ulcers occur due to sustained pressure that impedes blood flow and causes tissue death. Regular turning of bedridden patients helps prevent these ulcers.

Step-by-step explanation:

The stimulus for the formation of pressure ulcers is mechanical. Pressure ulcers, also known as bedsores or decubitus ulcers, result from constant, long-term, unrelieved pressure on parts of the body, usually where there is bony prominence.

This pressure impedes blood flow and can lead to tissue necrosis or tissue death. Nurses are vigilant about turning bedridden patients, such as those recovering from cervical spine surgery, to prevent the formation of these ulcers.

Nociceptors are the type of receptor that transduce pain signals, which can be caused by mechanical, chemical, or thermal stimuli exceeding certain thresholds.

When tissues are stressed or damaged, they release chemicals that activate receptor proteins in nociceptors. Proper patient care practices in hospitals and other healthcare facilities include regular patient repositioning to minimize the risk of pressure ulcers.

Learn more about Pressure Ulcers

User Nick Caplinger
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