A nurse witnesses a motor vehicle crash and finds a client who is not breathing. The nurse suspects the client has a cervical vertebrae fracture. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
Open the client's airway using the jaw-thrust maneuver to provide oxygenation
Check the client's cranial nerve function by assessing pupils equal, round, reactive to light, and accommodation (PERRLA)
Place the client in a rigid cervical collar
Evaluate the client for brain injury
The Correct Answer is A
A. The first priority in this situation is to open the client's airway using the jaw-thrust maneuver. This technique is preferred for clients with suspected spinal injuries to avoid further spinal cord damage. Ensuring the airway is open and providing oxygenation are immediate life-saving actions.
B. Checking cranial nerve function, including assessing pupils, is important for evaluating neurological status but is not the first action when the client is not breathing. Ensuring the airway is open and providing oxygenation is the priority.
C. While placing the client in a rigid cervical collar is important for stabilizing the spine and preventing further injury, it should be done after ensuring the airway is clear. The immediate concern is to address the client's non-breathing status.
D. Evaluating the client for brain injury is important for overall assessment but is secondary to addressing the immediate life threat of not breathing. Ensuring the airway is open and then stabilizing the spine is the priority.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. The time of the burn helps in understanding how long the client has been exposed and may influence the assessment of burn progression, but it does not directly determine the severity.
B. The depth of the burn is the primary factor in assessing burn severity. It determines the level of tissue damage and guides treatment decisions. Depth classifications include superficial, partial-thickness, and full-thickness burns.
C. The cause of the burn is important for treatment considerations and understanding the mechanism of injury but does not impact the assessment of burn severity.
D. The location of the burn affects the potential for complications and functional impairment but is secondary to the depth in determining overall burn severity.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Malignant hypertension poses risks for other conditions but is not the primary risk factor for cardiogenic shock.
B. A stroke does not directly lead to cardiogenic shock, though it may have other significant complications.
C. Acute kidney injury affects renal function but is not the primary risk for cardiogenic shock.
D. A myocardial infarction (MI) can impair the heart's pumping ability, leading to cardiogenic shock. This is due to the damage to heart muscle that can severely impact cardiac output and blood pressure.
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