The nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client who has fallen 20 feet from a roof. While performing the primary assessment, what is the most important nursing intervention?

Remove clothing

Maintain cervical spine precaution

Perform a mental status exam

Assess for facial lacerations

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

A. Remove clothing: While removing clothing may be necessary for a thorough assessment and treatment, maintaining cervical spine precaution takes precedence to prevent potential spinal cord injury in clients with a history of trauma, such as a fall from a significant height.

B. Maintain cervical spine precaution: Maintaining cervical spine precaution by stabilizing the cervical spine and immobilizing the neck is crucial to prevent further injury to the spinal cord in clients with a history of trauma until spinal injury is ruled out or managed.

C. Perform a mental status exam: While assessing the client's mental status is important for evaluating neurological function, it is not the first priority in a client with potential spinal cord injury following a fall.

D. Assess for facial lacerations: Assessing for facial lacerations is important for identifying and managing potential facial injuries, but it is not the first priority in the primary assessment of a client with a history of trauma and potential spinal cord injury.

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A. Send the patient for a computed tomography (CT) scan: While obtaining a CT scan is important for diagnosing potential causes of the patient's left-sided hemiparesis, assessing the patient's respiratory status takes precedence to ensure adequate oxygenation and ventilation.

B. Check the respiratory rate and effort: Assessing the patient's respiratory rate and effort is the first priority to identify any signs of respiratory distress or compromise. Adequate oxygenation and ventilation are essential for maintaining vital organ function.

C. Assess the Glasgow Coma Scale score: While assessing the Glasgow Coma Scale score is important for evaluating the patient's level of consciousness and neurological status, it is not the first action to take in a patient with potential respiratory compromise.

D. Take the patient's blood pressure: While obtaining the patient's blood pressure is important for assessing hemodynamic stability, it is not the first priority when the patient presents with left-sided hemiparesis and may be at risk for respiratory compromise.

A. Oriented to person, place, and year B. Severe headache C. Bradycardia D. Blurred vision

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A. Oriented to person, place, and year: Meningitis often causes alterations in mental status, including confusion and disorientation. Therefore, the client may not be fully oriented to person, place, and time.

B. Severe headache: Headache is a hallmark symptom of meningitis and is often described as severe and persistent. It may be accompanied by other symptoms such as photophobia (sensitivity to light) and phonophobia (sensitivity to sound).

C. Bradycardia: Bradycardia is not typically associated with meningitis. In fact, tachycardia (elevated heart rate) may be present due to fever and systemic inflammation.

D. Blurred vision: While meningitis can lead to increased intracranial pressure, which may manifest as papilledema (swelling of the optic disc), blurred vision is not a common presenting symptom of meningitis. Visual changes are more commonly associated with conditions affecting the optic nerve or retina.

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The nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client who has fallen 20 feet from a roof. While performing the primary assessment, what is the most important nursing intervention?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

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Explanation

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

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