A patient is admitted with a diagnosis of blunt trauma to the abdomen after a motor vehicle crash. What should the nurse assess first when the patient arrives in the emergency department?
1. airway for patency
2. abdomen for any abnormalities
3. cervical spine for tenderness
4. signs of neurological deficits
Correct Answer: 1
Assessment of the airway is the highest priority in the trauma patient. Assessment includes determining airway patency. If the patient is unresponsive, manual opening of the airway using a jaw thrust or chin lift maneuver is necessary. Once the airway is opened, the practitioner must identify any potential obstruction from the tongue, loose teeth, foreign bodies, bleeding, secretions, vomitus, or edema. If the patient is responsive and can vocalize, that is a good indication that the airway is clear. All the other responses are important, but certainly the nurse should address the airway initially.
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