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 B
Explanation
A. Darkening the room can help reduce light sensitivity, but it does not address the underlying cause of the headache.
B. Increasing fluid intake is effective in managing a headache after a lumbar puncture because it helps replenish cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and reduces the risk of post-lumbar puncture headache, which often results from CSF leakage.
C. Naproxen sodium can provide relief for headache pain, but increasing fluid intake addresses the root cause of the headache more directly.
D. Elevating the head of the bed is generally recommended for certain conditions, but it is not the most effective strategy for addressing a post-lumbar puncture headache, which is better managed by increasing fluid intake.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Malnutrition and acute pancreatitis are not primary causes of chronic pancreatitis. While acute pancreatitis can lead to chronic conditions, malnutrition is not a common direct cause.
B. Heavy alcohol consumption and smoking are well-established risk factors for chronic pancreatitis. These lifestyle factors can cause inflammation and damage to the pancreas over time.
C. Caffeine consumption does not have a direct correlation with chronic pancreatitis. Cigarette smoking is a risk factor, but caffeine is not.
D. Acute hepatitis is not a common cause of chronic pancreatitis. While alcohol consumption is a risk factor, the presence of acute hepatitis is not typically a direct cause.
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