A patient is brought into the emergency department after an acute exposure to radiation from the local atomic power plant. The patient has skin burns on his face, arms, and neck
The nurse realizes that which of the following should be done first for this patient? 1. Determine amount of radiologic exposure and treat the skin burns.
2. Provide support for the onset of hypotension and diarrhea.
3. Begin antibiotic therapy.
4. Prepare to administer a blood transfusion.
Determine amount of radiologic exposure and treat the skin burns.
Rationale: Most hospitals have Geiger counters to determine the presence or absence of radiation in the environment. The Geiger counter can be used to help assess the dose of radiation the patient received. However, people exposed to low-level external radiologic contamination may have skin burns that will heal. These people are not considered to be at higher risk for later cancer development. Those who have whole-body, or at least a significant part of the body, radiation exposure can develop acute radiation syndrome. In the prodromal phase of this syndrome, the patient will have a rapid onset of hypotension and diarrhea. In the illness phase of the syndrome, patients will need antibiotics and blood transfusions.
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a. 2 c. 6 b. 4 d. 8