Family members report that their 62-year-old mother complained of dizziness and right leg weakness just before falling down a flight of stairs. Your assessment indicates that the patient is responsive, but confused and talking with garbled speech. Her breathing is adequate and her radial pulse is strong. Vital signs are pulse 84 beats/min, respirations 18 breaths/min, blood pressure 188/110 mmHg, and SpO2 96%. There is an open fracture to her right forearm. When instructed to do so, the patient does not move the fingers of her right hand. When caring for this patient, which sequence of actions seems most appropriate?

Question

A) Provide spine motion restriction precautions to include securing her on a long spine board, and then place a splint on her right arm prior to beginning a lights and sirens transport
B) Provide spine motion restriction precautions to include a cervical collar, long spine board, and straps before extricating her to the ambulance for immediate transport
C) Make sure that a radial pulse is present, and splint the right arm prior to moving the patient to the stretcher and then the ambulance, where she can be placed on a long spine board and provided with other spine motion restriction interventions
D) Splint the right arm in the position found and transfer the patient to the stretcher for immediate transport to the hospital without taking spinal motion restriction precautions

Answer 1

B) Provide spine motion restriction precautions to include a cervical collar, long spine board, and straps before extricating her to the ambulance for immediate transport