A nurse on a high-acuity intermediate care unit is preparing to perform initial physical assessments following a shift transition. Based on the documented clinical cues, which client presents the most critical threat to life and must be evaluated first?
- AA client with a spinal cord injury who reports a sudden, severe pounding headache and has a blood pressure of mm Hg.
- A client extubated minutes ago who demonstrates a high-pitched inspiratory sound, restlessness, and supraclavicular retractions.Cevap
- CA client with an acute exacerbation of heart failure who is coughing up pink, frothy sputum and has an oxygen saturation of on room air.
- DA client with a temporary transvenous pacemaker who reports feeling lightheaded and whose cardiac monitor shows a heart rate of bpm with failure to capture.
Cevap
The client who was extubated minutes ago and exhibits a high-pitched inspiratory sound, restlessness, and supraclavicular retractions.
The client exhibiting a high-pitched inspiratory sound (stridor), restlessness, and retractions is demonstrating signs of an impending, complete airway obstruction. Under the Airway-Breathing-Circulation (ABC) prioritization framework, establishing and maintaining a patent airway is always the absolute highest priority. Laryngeal edema or laryngospasm can quickly progress to complete occlusion, making ventilation impossible and leading to rapid cardiac arrest. This client requires immediate emergency intervention, such as the administration of racemic epinephrine or reintubation, before any other clients are assessed.
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Anahtar Kavram
Prioritization using the Airway-Breathing-Circulation (ABC) framework in life-threatening emergencies.
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