Emergency medical technicians transport a 27-year-old iron worker to the emergency department. They tell the nurse, “He fell from a two-story building.
He has a large contusion on his left chest and a hematoma in the left parietal area.
He has a compound fracture of his left femur and he’s comatose.
We intubated him and he’s maintaining an arterial oxygen saturation of 92% by pulse oximeter with a manual-resuscitation bag.”
Which intervention by the nurse has the highest priority?
a- Assessing the left leg
b- Assessing the pupils
c- Placing the client in Trendelenburg’s position
d- Assessing level of consciousness
Answer A.
In the scenario, airway and breathing are established so the nurse’s next priority should be circulation.
With a compound fracture of the femur, there is a high risk of profuse bleeding; therefore, the nurse should assess the site.
Neurologic assessment is a secondary concern to airway, breathing, and circulation.
The nurse doesn’t have enough data to warrant putting the client in Trendelenburg’s position.
He has a compound fracture of his left femur and he’s comatose.
We intubated him and he’s maintaining an arterial oxygen saturation of 92% by pulse oximeter with a manual-resuscitation bag.”
Which intervention by the nurse has the highest priority?
a- Assessing the left leg
b- Assessing the pupils
c- Placing the client in Trendelenburg’s position
d- Assessing level of consciousness
Answer A.
In the scenario, airway and breathing are established so the nurse’s next priority should be circulation.
With a compound fracture of the femur, there is a high risk of profuse bleeding; therefore, the nurse should assess the site.
Neurologic assessment is a secondary concern to airway, breathing, and circulation.
The nurse doesn’t have enough data to warrant putting the client in Trendelenburg’s position.
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Neurologic Practice