What physical response should a nurse anticipate when drawing a blood sample from a client exhibiting decerebrate posture?

When drawing a blood sample from a client exhibiting decerebrate posture, the most likely physical response to anticipate is the client extending their arms. Decerebrate posturing is typically characterized by abnormal body posture that involves the rigid extension of the arms and legs, along with the stiffening of the body and arching of the back. This posture results from severe brain injury, often at the level of the brainstem, indicating significant central nervous system dysfunction.

In this context, when a nurse approaches to draw blood, the client's body is likely to remain in this extended, rigid position, reflecting the neurological compromise associated with decerebrate posturing. This response is a direct manifestation of the underlying neural pathways that have been affected, causing a loss of voluntary control over normal arm movements, leading to an extension rather than flexion or withdrawal.