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 A
Explanation
A. Difficulty swallowing in a client with facial burns can indicate airway compromise due to edema and should be reported immediately as it may require urgent intervention to secure the airway.
B. While pain is a significant concern and should be managed, it is not as immediately life-threatening as potential airway obstruction.
C. A respiratory rate of 24 breaths per minute is elevated but within the range of mild tachypnea, which could be due to pain or anxiety, and is not the most urgent finding.
D. Urinary output of 25 mL/hr is below normal and indicates possible hypovolemia or kidney injury, but airway concerns take precedence in this scenario.
Correct Answer is {"dropdown-group-1":"C","dropdown-group-2":"A"}
Explanation
Sodium level: The client's sodium level is significantly elevated (157 mEq/L), indicating hyponatremia. This is a critical finding that needs to be addressed promptly to prevent serious complications such as seizures and coma.
Heart rate: While the heart rate is slightly elevated, it is not as urgent a concern as the sodium level. Once the sodium level is stabilized, the nurse can address the heart rate if it remains elevated.
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