In: Nursing
The nurse is providing care to several patients in the emergency department. In which order should the nurse assess and provide care to the patients? (Enter the number of each step in the proper sequence)
1) A patient with a leg laceration requiring sutures
2) A patient with abdominal pain rated as a 7 on a numeric pain
scale
3) A patient who has multiple trauma due to a motor vehicle
accident
4) A patient who took an overdose of opioids with a respiratory
rate of eight breaths per minute
The nurse is providing care to several patients in the emergency department. In which order should the nurse assess and provide care to the patients.
A. The nurse should first respond to the patient who took an overdose of opioids with a respiratory rate of eight breaths per minute.
Because the patient developing respiratory arrest, it can cause hypoxia and can develop to cardiac arrest or it can cause irriversible damage of vital organs and death.
B. A patient who has multiple trauma due to a motor vehicle accident should be the second priority of the nurse. Here the action includes cesation of bleeding and prevention of infection.
C. Here the third priority should be the patient with abdominal pain rated as a 7 on a numeric pain scale. The action includes inspection of the cause and administration of analgesics.
D. The nurse should least prioritize the patient with a leg laceration requiring sutures among above patients.