An unresponsive male victim of a diving accident is brought to the emergency department where it is determined that immediate surgery is required to save his life.
The client is accompanied by a close friend, but no family members are available.
Which action should the nurse take first?
Carry on with surgical preparation of the client without a signed informed consent.
Ask the man's friend to sign the informed consent since the client is unresponsive.
Notify the unit manager that an emergency court order is needed to allow surgery.
Continue to provide life support until a thorough search for a guardian is completed.
The Correct Answer is A
The correct answer is choice a. Carry on with surgical preparation of the client without a signed informed consent.
Choice A rationale:
In emergency situations where immediate surgery is required to save a patient’s life and no family members are available, the doctrine of presumed consent applies. This means that healthcare providers can proceed with necessary treatment without a signed informed consent to prevent serious harm or death.
Choice B rationale:
Asking the man’s friend to sign the informed consent is not appropriate because friends are not legally authorized to provide consent for medical procedures unless they have legal documentation proving their authority.
Choice C rationale:
Notifying the unit manager for an emergency court order would delay the necessary surgery, which could be detrimental to the patient’s health. In emergencies, immediate action is required, and waiting for a court order is not feasible.
Choice D rationale:
Continuing to provide life support while searching for a guardian would also delay the necessary surgery. In life-threatening situations, immediate surgical intervention is prioritized over finding a legal guardian.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Assisting in discharging stable clients to home is not the most appropriate assignment when a mass casualty event has occurred. During such events, resources are needed for critically injured patients, and stable clients can typically be discharged by non-emergency staff.
Choice B rationale:
Determining the acuity and number of casualties arriving at the facility is the most appropriate assignment during a mass casualty event. This information is critical for allocating resources and providing the necessary level of care to those affected.
Choice C rationale:
Delegating tasks to emergency healthcare specialists may be necessary, but it is not the initial assignment for the nurse working on a medical-surgical unit. Assessing the situation and determining the acuity of incoming casualties take precedence.
Choice D rationale:
Providing informational updates to members of the media is not the role of a nurse during a mass casualty event. This task should be handled by hospital public relations or designated spokespersons to ensure accurate and controlled information dissemination.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Step 1 is to convert the child’s weight from pounds to kilograms since the dosage is prescribed in mg/kg. We know that 1 kg is approximately 2.2 lbs. So, the child’s weight in kg is 55 lbs ÷ 2.2 = 25 kg (rounded to the nearest whole number for simplicity).
Step 2 is to calculate the total daily dosage. The prescription is for 150 mg/kg/day. So, the total daily dosage is 150 mg/kg/day × 25 kg = 3750 mg/day.
So, the correct answer is, after analysing all choices, the nurse should administer 3750 mg of cefotaxime each day.
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