Final answer:
The nurse should identify a report of a headache as a symptom of autonomic dysreflexia in a client with a high-thoracic spinal cord injury. Therefore, option C, Report of a Headache, is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse should identify report of a headache as a symptom of autonomic dysreflexia in a client with a high-thoracic spinal cord injury.
Autonomic dysreflexia is a potentially life-threatening condition characterized by a sudden and severe increase in blood pressure. It occurs due to an exaggerated response of the autonomic nervous system below the level of the spinal cord injury. Common triggering factors include bladder distention, bowel impaction, or stimulation of the skin below the level of injury.
During an episode of autonomic dysreflexia, a headache is often the first sign. This occurs due to the increased blood pressure and subsequent dilation of blood vessels above the level of the spinal cord injury. Other symptoms may include flushing or redness of the skin above the level of injury, profuse sweating, goosebumps, piloerection, nasal congestion, bradycardia, and anxiety.
Therefore, option C, Report of a Headache, is the correct answer.