The nurse is caring for a client in the burn unit with burns to the head, neck, chest back left arm and hand following an explosion in their garage. Upon admission, the nurse auscultates wheezes throughout all lung fields and applies oxygen via non-rebreather. One hour later, upon reassessment, the patient is visibly anxious and short of breath, wheezes cannot be heard, lung sounds are decreased, voice is hoarse, and the client is coughing up gray sputum. What is the most appropriate nursing action?

Notify the physician and anticipate the need for endotracheal intubation

Place the client in semi-fowler's position and administer albuterol breathing treatment

Encourage the client to cough, take deep breaths, and then auscultate again

Recommend a medical prescription for guaifenesin and encourage use of incentive spirometry

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

A. Notify the physician and anticipate the need for endotracheal intubation
The client is showing progressive airway obstruction due to inhalation injury. The absence of wheezes indicates impending respiratory failure, requiring immediate airway management.

B. Place the client in semi-Fowler's position and administer an albuterol breathing treatment
Albuterol may help bronchospasm, but this client's issue is upper airway swelling, not bronchospasm. Intubation is the priority.

C. Encourage the client to cough, take deep breaths, and then auscultate again
The loss of wheezes suggests airway swelling has worsened, not that secretions are the issue. Immediate intervention is needed.

D. Recommend a medical prescription for guaifenesin and encourage use of incentive spirometry
Guaifenesin and incentive spirometry help with secretion clearance, but they are not the priority in this emergent airway situation.

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Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A. includes the head-to-toe anterior and posterior assessment.
This describes a secondary assessment, not a primary one. The primary assessment focuses on the immediate life-threatening issues rather than a full head-to-toe examination.

B. priorities are continuing and ongoing but treatment will be deferred if the client is unstable.
In primary assessment, treatment should not be deferred in unstable clients. Immediate treatment and stabilization take priority.

C. is focused on airway maintenance and ventilation effectiveness.
As airway and ventilation are key aspects of the primary assessment (known as the "ABC" of trauma: Airway, Breathing, Circulation). However, it does not cover all of the primary assessment areas.

D. focuses on the ABCDs of the client to identify life-threatening problems.
The primary assessment is focused on identifying life-threatening problems using the ABCDs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability).

A. Decrease chest pain B. Reduce the client's anxiety C. Maintain adequate circulating volume D. Maintain adequate oxygenation

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A. Decrease chest pain is important but not the highest priority. Managing pain can help with breathing, but oxygenation is the primary concern.

B. Reduce the client's anxiety is secondary to physiological needs. Anxiety can worsen dyspnea, but addressing oxygenation first is more critical.

C. Maintain adequate circulating volume is a priority if there is hemorrhage, but the question does not indicate bleeding. Oxygenation takes precedence in this case.

D. Maintain adequate oxygenation is the priority. Chest trauma can lead to pneumothorax, pulmonary contusion, or other complications that can impair gas exchange. Ensuring adequate oxygenation prevents hypoxia and respiratory failure, which are life-threatening.

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Which of the following would the nurse understand is correct when implementing a primary assessment for clients suffering major trauma? The primary assessment:

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A young adult is admitted to the emergency department after a motor vehicle crash. The client has severe pain in the right chest due to impact with the steering wheel. Which is the priority client goal?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A nurse is performing an initial interview of a client who has a neurologic deficit. Which actions by the nurse are MOST appropriate? (SELECT ALL THAT APPLY)

The nurse is caring for a patient with major bums Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) of 63%. The nurse understands that this patient is at the highest risk for the combination of which types of shock? (Select All that Apply.)

The nurse is caring for an 82-year-old client with a history of coronary artery disease. ML. and CHF. The client is to receive 2 units of packed red blood cells for acute blood loss from a Grbleed. What would be the nursing priorities for blood administration of this client? (Select All that Apply)

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The nurse is caring for a patient with muffled heart sounds, jugular venous distention and hypotension. The provider diagnoses the patient with cardiac tamponade. The nurse understands that the priority of treatment for this type of shock is