A nurse is caring for a client who has sustained a severe head trauma and has significant bleeding from the nose. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
Establish a patent airway
Prepare for a CT scan
Insert a peripheral IV line
Apply direct pressure to the nose.
The Correct Answer is A
Rationale:
A. Establish a patent airway: Severe head trauma with active nasal bleeding raises concern for airway obstruction from blood pooling, impaired consciousness, or loss of protective reflexes. Ensuring a patent airway prevents hypoxia, which can rapidly worsen neurologic injury. Early airway control is the priority because compromised breathing poses an immediate threat to life
B. Prepare for a CT scan: A CT scan is essential for diagnosing intracranial injuries, fractures, and sources of bleeding, but the client must first have a stable airway and adequate oxygenation. Imaging cannot safely proceed until airway patency is confirmed, since deterioration during transport is a major risk.
C. Insert a peripheral IV line: IV access is necessary for fluid resuscitation and medication administration, but it is not the most urgent action when airway compromise is suspected. The risk of hypoxia outweighs the risk of delayed IV access, and airway management must occur before secondary stabilization steps. Once the airway is secured, IV access can be safely done.
D. Apply direct pressure to the nose: Direct pressure is generally used to control epistaxis, but in severe head trauma, nasal bleeding may indicate a basilar skull fracture, and pressure could worsen underlying injury or dislodge clots. Additionally, controlling bleeding is secondary to securing the airway, as blood flow can interfere with breathing.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["A","D","F"]
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Monitor the height and tone of the client's fundus: Assessing uterine fundus is essential postpartum, especially with signs of infection and moderate lochia. Monitoring for firmness, height, and consistency helps identify uterine atony or worsening infection, guiding timely interventions to prevent hemorrhage or complications.
B. Inform the client she will need to formula feed her newborn until she has received antibiotics for 24 hr: Most antibiotics prescribed for postpartum infections, such as clindamycin, are considered compatible with breastfeeding. Advising formula feeding unnecessarily could disrupt breastfeeding without clinical justification.
C. Initiate contact precautions: Postpartum infections like endometritis or mastitis are generally not spread via contact in a hospital setting. Standard precautions, including hand hygiene, are sufficient unless a specific transmissible pathogen is identified.
D. Instruct the client to wash her hands before and after changing her perineal pad: Hand hygiene prevents the spread of infection and reduces the risk of secondary infections. Teaching proper handwashing is an essential standard precaution for clients with postpartum infections.
E. Obtain a culture specimen of the lochia from the client's perineal pad using a sterile swab: Routine cultures of lochia are not indicated unless there is suspicion of an unusual pathogen or worsening infection. Assessment and empiric antibiotics are standard for postpartum endometritis based on clinical findings.
F. Encourage the client to maintain a semi-Fowler's position to enhance uterine drainage: Semi-Fowler’s positioning promotes uterine drainage, reduces stasis of lochia, and supports comfort. This position aids in preventing complications such as uterine infection or retention of lochia.
G. Request a prescription for terbutaline from the provider: Terbutaline is a tocolytic used to suppress preterm labor. It is not indicated for postpartum infection, uterine atony, or lochia management and is not appropriate in this scenario.
Correct Answer is ["A","C","D"]
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Reinforce orientation to time, place, and person: Regularly providing cues about the current time, location, and people helps reduce confusion and anxiety in clients with dementia. Orientation reinforcement supports cognitive functioning and promotes a sense of safety.
B. Refute the client’s delusions using logic: Arguing or attempting to correct delusions can increase agitation and distress. Therapeutic communication focuses on validation and redirection rather than confrontation, making this approach inappropriate for dementia care.
C. Establish eye contact when communicating with the client: Maintaining eye contact helps ensure the client’s attention and conveys engagement and respect. It enhances understanding and supports effective communication, especially when verbal comprehension may be impaired.
D. Give the client one simple direction at a time: Breaking tasks into single, clear instructions reduces cognitive overload and frustration. This approach increases the likelihood that the client can follow directions and participate successfully in activities of daily living.
E. Allow the client to choose among a variety of activities each day: While offering choices promotes autonomy, offering a large variety can be overwhelming for a client with dementia, leading to confusion, anxiety, and decision paralysis. The nurse should offer limited choices
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