A patient is brought to the ED by ambulance after a motor vehicle accident in which the patient received blunt trauma to the chest. The patient is in acute respiratory failure, is intubated, and is transferred to the ICU
What parameters of care should the nurse monitor most closely? Select all that apply.
A) Coping
B) Level of consciousness
C) Oral intake
D) Arterial blood gases
E) Vital signs
Ans: B, D, E
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Patients are usually treated in the ICU. The nurse assesses the patient's respiratory status by monitoring the level of responsiveness, ABGs, pulse oximetry, and vital signs. Oral intake and coping are not immediate priorities during the acute stage of treatment, but would become more important later during recovery.
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