The nurse would explain that emergency treatment of a tension pneumothorax requires
a. a small stab wound with a skin blade made into the pleural space.
b. covering the chest wall wound with gauze.
c. immediate tracheostomy.
d. insertion of an 18-gauge needle into the pleural space.
D
The immediate intervention is to convert tension pneumothorax into open pneumothorax (a less serious disorder). If a delay is anticipated (with chest tube insertion), a 14- to 18-gauge needle is inserted into the pleural space of the affected side at the level of the second intercostal space at the midclavicular line.
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