An emergency department nurse triages a group of clients who were injured in a school bus crash. Which of the following clients should the nurse have the provider evaluate first?
A client who has a forehead wound that is bleeding copiously
A client who has a compound fracture of the femur and is crying in pain
A client who was unconscious at the scene and now reports diplopia and nausea
A client who has several missing teeth and a swollen, ecchymotic upper lip
The Correct Answer is C
A. A client who has a forehead wound that is bleeding copiously. Although bleeding may appear dramatic, most scalp wounds bleed heavily and can be controlled with pressure. This is not immediately life-threatening if the client is stable.
B. A client who has a compound fracture of the femur and is crying in pain. This is a serious injury with risk for blood loss and infection, but the client is alert and stable enough to express pain, suggesting less immediate neurologic risk than other clients.
C. A client who was unconscious at the scene and now reports diplopia and nausea. This client likely has a head injury with signs of increased intracranial pressure or concussion (diplopia = double vision, nausea, and prior loss of consciousness). These are neurological red flags and require immediate evaluation to prevent deterioration.
D. A client who has several missing teeth and a swollen, ecchymotic upper lip. While painful and concerning, oral trauma without airway compromise is less urgent than potential brain injury.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. "I should visually monitor the client continuously when in mechanical restraints." Continuous visual monitoring is required to ensure the client’s safety, monitor for distress or injury, and assess the ongoing need for restraints. This is a key safety standard in the use of mechanical restraints.
B. "I should assess the client's skin integrity every 8 hours while in mechanical restraints." Skin integrity must be assessed much more frequently, typically every 15 to 30 minutes, to prevent injury or pressure-related complications while the client is restrained.
C. "I should expect the provider to evaluate the client within 4 hours of restraint application." For adults, a provider must evaluate the client within 1 hour of the initiation of mechanical restraints. A 4-hour delay does not meet safety or legal standards.
D. "I should ask the provider to write a prescription for mechanical restraints as needed." PRN (as-needed) prescriptions for restraints are not permitted. Each use must be justified, time-limited, and based on the client’s immediate behavior or condition.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. "You should take a dose every night at bedtime." Sublingual nitroglycerin is not taken on a routine schedule like bedtime. It is used as needed at the onset of chest pain or before activities that might trigger angina, not as a preventive nightly dose.
B. “You should take this medication with food." Sublingual nitroglycerin is placed under the tongue and absorbed directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the gastrointestinal system. It does not require administration with food.
C. "You may repeat a dose after five minutes." If chest pain persists after the first dose, the client may take one tablet every 5 minutes, up to a total of three doses within 15 minutes. If the pain continues after the third dose, emergency services should be contacted.
D. “You may crush this medication if needed." Sublingual tablets should never be crushed or swallowed, as this would prevent proper absorption through the oral mucosa and reduce the medication’s effectiveness in relieving acute chest pain.
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