A young adult is brought to the Emergency Department (ED) after a motor vehicle accident (MVA). The patient has severe right chest pain where there was impact with the steering wheel. Which is the priority patient goal?
Reduce the patient's anxiety
Assure adequate circulating volume
Decrease the patient's chest pain
Maintain adequate oxygenation
The Correct Answer is D
A) Reduce the patient's anxiety:
While reducing anxiety is an important aspect of patient care, particularly in emergency situations, it is not the priority when life-threatening conditions may be present. Anxiety reduction can be addressed after ensuring that the patient’s more critical physiological needs (such as adequate oxygenation and circulation) are met.
B) Assure adequate circulating volume:
Maintaining adequate circulating volume is important, especially in trauma cases where blood loss is a concern. However, adequate oxygenation takes precedence over circulating volume in this scenario because without proper oxygenation, the patient’s vital organs and tissues may suffer from hypoxia, leading to further complications.
C) Decrease the patient's chest pain:
Chest pain following a motor vehicle accident (MVA) can be a symptom of serious injuries, such as rib fractures, pneumothorax, or even a cardiac contusion. While relieving pain is important for comfort and overall well-being, the priority in the immediate post-trauma phase is to ensure that the patient is receiving adequate oxygen.
D) Maintain adequate oxygenation:
The most critical concern after trauma, especially in a case involving chest impact, is ensuring that the patient is adequately oxygenated. Chest trauma can cause injuries to the lungs or pleural space (e.g., pneumothorax, hemothorax), leading to compromised oxygen exchange. The priority is to assess and maintain the patient's airway, breathing, and oxygenation first.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["A","B","D"]
Explanation
A) Tachycardia: Tachycardia is commonly seen in left-sided heart failure as the heart attempts to compensate for the reduced cardiac output. To maintain adequate perfusion, the body increases the heart rate. The sympathetic nervous system is activated, causing an increase in heart rate to try to pump blood more efficiently despite the reduced pumping ability of the left ventricle.
B) Crackles: Crackles (also known as rales) are typically heard upon auscultation of the lungs in patients with left-sided heart failure. When the left ventricle fails to effectively pump blood, it causes blood to back up into the lungs, resulting in pulmonary congestion. This leads to fluid accumulation in the alveoli, causing crackling sounds during inhalation.
C) Ascites: Ascites is more commonly seen in right-sided heart failure or in cases of congestive heart failure where both sides of the heart are affected. Ascites is the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen, which is a consequence of right-sided heart failure causing blood to back up into the abdomen. In left-sided heart failure, ascites is generally not a primary symptom unless the failure becomes severe and involves both sides of the heart.
D) Dyspnea: Dyspnea, or shortness of breath, is a hallmark symptom of left-sided heart failure. The left ventricle's inability to pump blood efficiently leads to pulmonary congestion, which causes fluid to accumulate in the lungs. This fluid buildup reduces the lung's ability to exchange oxygen, resulting in difficulty breathing, especially on exertion or when lying down (orthopnea).
E) Peripheral edema: Peripheral edema is more characteristic of right-sided heart failure due to the backup of blood in the systemic circulation. While it can occur in cases of biventricular heart failure (both right and left sides of the heart are affected), it is not the primary finding in left-sided heart failure. Left-sided heart failure typically presents with pulmonary symptoms rather than systemic symptoms like peripheral edema.
Correct Answer is ["D","E"]
Explanation
A) Pneumonia: Pneumonia is a direct cause of ARDS, as it involves direct inflammation and infection of the lung tissue, leading to impaired oxygen exchange and damage to the alveolar-capillary membrane. It results in fluid accumulation in the lungs, which is a key characteristic of ARDS.
B) Drowning: Drowning is another direct cause of ARDS. It involves the aspiration of water into the lungs, which directly damages lung tissue, causing pulmonary edema and impaired oxygenation.
C) Aspiration: Aspiration of food, liquid, or vomit into the lungs is also a direct cause of ARDS. The aspirated material can lead to chemical pneumonia, bacterial infection, and inflammation of the lungs, which in turn causes ARDS.
D) Sepsis: Sepsis is an indirect cause of ARDS. It can lead to widespread inflammation throughout the body, including the lungs, through the release of inflammatory mediators (cytokines, interleukins, etc.). These systemic inflammatory responses can increase capillary permeability in the lungs, causing fluid to leak into the alveoli, which leads to ARDS.
E) Blood Transfusion: Blood transfusion, particularly when associated with transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI), is an indirect cause of ARDS. TRALI is a serious complication that can result from receiving blood products, where the transfused blood causes an immune response leading to pulmonary damage. It indirectly triggers inflammation and fluid buildup in the lungs, contributing to ARDS.
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