Question

A nurse is assisting with the care of a 3-year-old child who is prescribed a lumbar puncture. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to prevent complications?

a) Administer a sedative to keep the child calm
b) Encourage the child to cough before the procedure
c) Position the child in a side-lying fetal position
d) Apply a warm compress to the lumbar area

Answer 1

A lumbar puncture is performed in the lower lumbar area of the vertebral column to minimize the risk of damaging the central nervous system (CNS) tissue and to sample the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for testing.

Step-by-step explanation:

A lumbar puncture is performed in the lower lumbar area of the vertebral column because it is a relatively safe location to insert a needle. The spinal cord ends at the upper lumbar vertebrae, so by performing the lumbar puncture in the lower lumbar area, there is a reduced risk of damaging the central nervous system (CNS) tissue. This procedure is used to sample the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for testing and diagnosis of conditions such as meningitis.