PrepUs Ch 67: Emergency Nursing

The nurse is conducting a secondary survey on a client in the ED. Which action is completed during the secondary survey?

Diagnostic and laboratory testing Explanation: Diagnostic and laboratory testing is completed during the secondary survey, along with a complete health history, a head-to-toe assessment, insertion or application of monitoring devices, splinting of suspected fractures, cleansing, closure, and dressing of wounds, and performance of other necessary interventions based on the client's condition. The other interventions are completed during the primary survey.

Which statement reflects the nursing management of the client with a white phosphorus chemical burn?

Do not apply water to the burn

A client is brought to the emergency department by ambulance. The client is seriously ill and unconscious. No family or friends are present. Which of the following would be most appropriate to do?

Document the client's condition and absence of friends or family for obtaining consent to treatment.

A nurse is preparing to assist with a gastric lavage for a client who has ingested an unknown poison and is obtunded. To ensure that the tube reaches the stomach, the nurse would measure the distance from the bridge of the nose to which of the following?

Ear lobe and then to the xiphoid process Explanation The nurse measures the tube from the bridge of the nose to the xiphoid process to ensure that the tube reaches the stomach on insertion.

A client presents to the ED reporting choking on a chicken bone. The client is breathing spontaneously. The nurse applies oxygen and suspects a partial airway obstruction. Which action should the nurse do next?

Encourage the client to cough forcefully. Explanation If the client can breathe and cough spontaneously, a partial obstruction should be suspected. The client is encouraged to cough forcefully and to persist with spontaneous coughing and breathing efforts as long as good air exchange exists. There may be some wheezing between coughs. If the client demonstrates a weak, ineffective cough, a high-pitched noise while inhaling, increased respiratory difficulty, or cyanosis, the client should be managed as if there were complete airway obstruction. If the client is unconscious, inspection of the oropharynx may reveal the offending object. X-ray study, laryngoscopy, or bronchoscopy also may be performed. There is no indication that an artificial airway is indicated.

Nursing students are reviewing the categories of intra-abdominal injuries. The students demonstrate understanding of the information when they identify which of the following as examples of penetrating trauma? Select all that apply.

Gunshot wound Knife-stab wound

Which phase of the psychological reaction to rape is characterized by fear and flashbacks?

Heightened anxiety phase Explanation: During the heightened anxiety phase, the client demonstrates anxiety, hyperalertness, and psychosomatic reactions, in addition to fear and flashbacks. The acute disorganization phase is characterized by shock, disbelief, guilt, humiliation, and anger. The denial phase is characterized by an unwillingness to talk. The reorganization phase occurs when the incident is put into perspective. Some clients never fully recover from rape trauma.

A nurse is caring for a client who has arrived at the emergency department in shock. The nurse intervenes based on the knowledge that which of the following is the most common cause of shock?

Hypovolemia Types of shock include cardiogenic, neurogenic, anaphylactic, and septic. Of these, the most common cause is hypovolemia.

A patient who has accidentally ingested toilet bowel cleaner is brought to the emergency department. Which action would NOT be appropriate for the nurse to implement?

Induced vomiting Vomiting is never induced after ingestion of caustic substances (acid or alkaline) such as toilet bowl cleaner because the substance is corrosive to the tissues. Appropriate actions include dilution with milk or water, gastric lavage, and administration of activated charcoal.

A nurse is completing her annual cardiopulmonary resuscitation training. The class instructor tells her that a client has fallen off a ladder and is lying on his back; he is unconscious and isn't breathing. What maneuver should the nurse use to open his airway?

Jaw-thrust If a neck or spine injury is suspected, the jaw-thrust maneuver should be used to open the client's airway. To perform this maneuver, the nurse should position herself at the client's head and rest her thumbs on his lower jaw, near the corners of his mouth. She should then grasp the angles of his lower jaw with her fingers and lift the jaw forward. The head tilt-chin lift maneuver is used to open the airway when a neck or spine injury isn't suspected. To perform this maneuver the nurse places two fingers on the chin and lifts while pushing down on the forehead with the other hand. The abdominal thrust is used to relieve severe or complete airway obstruction caused by a foreign body. The Seldinger maneuver is a method of percutaneous introduction of a catheter into a vessel.

A patient arrives at the emergency department after sustaining a gunshot wound to the abdomen. When assessing the patient, the nurse pays particular attention to which of the following?

Liver Explanation: Penetrating abdominal injuries, such as from a gunshot wound, are serious and result in a high incidence of injury to hollow and solid organs. Although any organs can be injured, the liver is the most frequently injured solid organ. The small bowel is a frequently injured hollow organ. Thus, of the options shown, the nurse would assess the liver area most closely.

A nurse is providing care to an older adult client who has frostbite of the feet. Which action would be least appropriate

Massaging the feet Explanation: For a client with frostbite, massaging the affected body part is contraindicated. Analgesia is given for pain during the rewarming process because it can be very painful. Ambulation would be restricted. Once rewarmed, sterile gauze or cotton is placed between the affected toes to prevent maceration.

A client presents to the ED after an unsuccessful suicide attempt. The client is diagnosed with an acetaminophen overdose. The nurse anticipates the administration of which medication?

N-acetylcysteine

An 83-year-old client is brought in by ambulance from a long-term care facility. The client's symptoms are weakness, lethargy, incontinence, and a change in mental status. The nurse knows that emergencies in older adults may be more difficult to manage for what reason?

Older adults may have an altered response to treatment.

A nurse who is a member of an emergency response team anticipates that several patients with airway obstruction may need a cricothyroidotomy. For which of the following patients would this procedure be appropriate? Select all that apply.

Patient with extensive facial trauma Patient with an obstructed larynx Patient with laryngeal edema secondary to anaphylaxis Cricothyroidotomy is used in emergencies when endotracheal intubation is either not possible or contraindicated. Examples include airway obstruction from extensive maxillofacial trauma, cervical spine injury, laryngospasm, laryngeal edema after an allergic reaction or extubation, hemorrhage into neck tissue, and obstruction of the larynx.

A client is experiencing respiratory insufficiency and cannot maintain spontaneous respirations. The nurse suspects that the health care provider will perform which of the following actions?

Perform endotracheal intubation Explanation Endotracheal tubes are used in cases when the client cannot be ventilated with an oropharyngeal airway, which is used in clients who are breathing spontaneously. The jaw thrust maneuver does not establish an airway and cricothyroidotomy would be performed as a last resort.

When preparing to perform abdominal thrusts on a client with an airway obstruction, which of the following would be most appropriate?

Positioning the hands in the midline slightly above the umbilicus

A nurse is providing care to a client in the emergency department and walks into the hallway to get equipment. All of a sudden, gunshots are heard. Which of the following would be the nurse's priority?

Protecting himself or herself If gunfire occurs in the emergency department, self-protection is the priority. Security officers and police must gain control of the situation first and then care is provided to the injured.

The nurse observes that the family members of a client who was injured in an accident are blaming each other for the circumstances leading up to the accident. The nurse appropriately lets the family members express their feelings of responsibility, while explaining that there was probably little they could do to prevent the injury. In what stage of crisis is this family?

Remorse and guilt Explanation Remorse and guilt are natural processes of the stages of a crisis and should be facilitated for the family members to process the crisis. The family's sense of blame and responsibility are more suggestive of guilt than anger, grief, or anxiety.

A nurse is establishing a patient's airway. Which action would the nurse perform first?

Repositioning the patient's head Establishing an airway may be as simple as repositioning the patient's head to prevent the tongue from obstructing the pharynx. Subsequent measures would include abdominal thrusts to dislodge a foreign body, head-tilt chin-lift or jaw-thrust manuever, or insertion of an artificial airway.

The nurse in an intensive care unit is assigned to two clients. One of the clients has just passed away. The deceased client's family members have arrived to be at the client's bedside. Despite wanting to support the client's family, the nurse is must assess the other client's vital signs every 15 minutes, because the client is receiving a blood transfusion. In this situation, what is the nurse's best action?

Request that the pastor be present to support the family at the client bedside Explanation The death of a family member in the intensive care unit is a difficult and often time-consuming process. If nurses are unable to spend much time with grieving client's family, it is imperative to find the family alternate help: a colleague with more experience with grieving clients, a pastor, a social worker, hospital volunteers, family, or friends. It would be best if the nurse requests a pastor be available to the family in advance of their arrival to the deceased client's bedside. Much of the pastor's role in hospital settings is to support grieving families; therefore, the pastor would have more time to be with the family during this difficult time. The blood transfusion in the intensive care unit is not within the scope of practice for the licensed practical/vocational nurse. The nurse cannot delegate the monitoring of blood products to this health care provider. The intensive care unit is a busy environment and as difficult as it is for the assigned nurse to remain with the deceased client, it would be even more difficult for a nurse with a full assignment to take on the support role for the family. Explaining to the family that the unit is busy demonstrates a lack of empathy and would be countertherapeutic communication. It would not be appropriate to explain this to the family.

The nurse has commenced a transfusion of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) and notes the client is exhibiting symptoms of a transfusion reaction. After the nurse stops the transfusion, what is the next required action?

Run a normal saline line to keep the vein open Explanation: If the nurse suspects a transfusion reaction, the transfusion must be stopped immediately and the nurse's next action is to ensure the normal saline line is running at a rate that permits administration of IV fluids or medications that are required to treat the reaction. The nurse should ensure IV access is maintained. The "to keep vein open" (TKVO) rate allows the nurse to keep the IV client without the potential to cause fluid volume overload. It would be unsafe for the nurse to remove the peripheral IV because continued access is required for urgent IV administration of medications or fluids to treat the reaction. Obtaining a blood culture at the IV site would be necessary if an infection was suspected. This is not required for a transfusion reaction. Normal saline is the solution of choice when transfusing blood products because there is a risk for incompatibility with all other IV solutions.

Which guideline is appropriate for a nurse to implement while helping family members cope with the sudden death of a loved one?

Show acceptance of the body by touching it, giving the family permission to touch. Explanation: The nurse should encourage the family to view and touch the body if they wish, since this action helps the family to integrate the loss. The nurse should avoid using euphemisms such as "passed on." The nurse should avoid giving sedation to family members, because this may mask or delay the grieving process. The nurse should avoid volunteering unnecessary information (e.g., client was drinking at the time of the accident).

A patient was bitten by a tick 3 months ago and is now having muscle aches as well as joint pain and swelling. The patient is having difficulty with self care and requires assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs). What stage of Lyme disease does the nurse recognize the patient is in?

Stage III Lyme disease has three stages. Stage I presents with a classic "bull's-eye" rash (i.e., erythema migrans) and flulike signs and symptoms that may include chills, fever, myalgia, fatigue, and headache. If antibiotics are not administered, stage II Lyme disease may present within 4 to 10 weeks following the tick bite and may manifest with joint pain, memory loss, poor motor coordination, and meningitis. Stage III can begin anywhere from weeks to more than a year after the bite and has serious long-term chronic sequelae, including arthritis, neuropathy, myalgia, and myocarditis.

A nurse is providing in-service education for staff members about evidence collection after sexual assault. The educational session is successful when staff members focus their initial care on which step?

Supporting the client's emotional status Explanation: The teaching session is successful when staff members focus first on supporting the client's emotional status. Next, staff members should gain consent to perform the pelvic examination, perform the examination, and collect evidence, such as semen if present.

What is a common source of airway obstruction in an unconscious client?

The tongue In an unconscious client, the muscles controlling the tongue commonly relax, causing the tongue to obstruct the airway. When this situation occurs, the nurse should use the head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver to cause the tongue to fall back into place. If she suspects the client has a neck injury she must perform the jaw-thrust maneuver.

An emergency nurse has collected evidence from a patient who was shot during a robbery. The nurse is preparing to transfer the evidence to law enforcement. Which of the following would be important for the nurse to include when documenting this transfer? Select all that apply.

Time of the transfer of evidence Date that the evidence was collected Name of the law-enforcement official When transferring evidence to law enforcement, the nurse must document the chain of custody. This includes the information that evidence was transferred to the officer, the officer's name, and the date and time of the transfer. Labels are placed on each item, but this does not need to be documented for the transfer. The names of family members witnessing the transfer also do not need to be documented.

Which data is important for the nurse to record while assessing the client with an open wound?

Time when the client last received a tetanus immunization Explanations If the client has an open wound, the nurse ascertains when the client last received a tetanus immunization. This vital information helps assess the risk of infection in a client with an open wound. The assessment begins with measuring the client's vital signs. It is important to ascertain the time and place of injury with the degree of movement and range of motion in all cases, not just in the case of an open wound.

Which category of triage encompasses clients with serious health problems that are not immediately life threatening?

Urgent Explanation: Urgent clients have serious health problems that not immediately life threatening. They must be seen within 1 hour. Emergent clients have the highest priority with life-threatening conditions and they must be seen immediately. Nonurgent clients have episodic illness that can be addressed within 24 hours without increased morbidity. Fast-track clients require simple first aid or basic primary care and may be treated in the ED or safely referred to a clinic or physician's office.

The health care team in an intensive care unit have experienced a critical incident in which a young client died unexpectedly and the client's father physically attacked the senior physician treating the client. The client's father was arrested and escorted from the intensive care unit by police, against his will and in handcuffs. A critical incident stress management (CISM) staff meeting held 3 days after the incident took place. What would be the purpose for that meeting?

debriefing Explanation After serious events, critical incident stress management (CISM) is necessary to critique individual and group performance and to facilitate healthy coping. Optimally, this may consist of three steps: defusing, debriefing, and follow-up. Debriefing typically occurs 1 to 10 days after the critical incident. Debriefing sessions follow a format similar to the initial defusing session; however, during these sessions, participating staff are encouraged to discuss their feelings about the incident and are reassured that their negative reactions and feelings are normal and that their negative feelings will diminish over time. Defusing occurs immediately after the critical incident. During this session, affected staff are encouraged to discuss their feelings about the incident and are given contact information so that they may talk to someone if they have disturbing symptoms (e.g., sleeplessness, excessive worry). Follow-up may occur after the debriefing session is completed for those participants who have persistent negative symptoms and may consist of continued individual or group counseling and therapy. Counseling or group therapy would typically occur outside the context of the stress-inducing environment. Individuals may require private counseling versus group counseling.

A client undergoes a total abdominal hysterectomy. When assessing the client 10 hours later, the nurse identifies which finding as an early sign of shock?

increasing heart rate

A client undergoes a total abdominal hysterectomy. When assessing the client 10 hours later, the nurse identifies which finding as an early sign of shock?

increasing heart rate Explanation Early in shock, heart rate increases. Inadequate tissue perfusion causes pale, cool, clammy skin (not pale, warm, dry skin). In the early stages of shock, the client's heart rate will become elevated above normal. In early shock the client's blood pressure will remain normal, but as shock progresses the mechanisms that regulate blood pressure will not be able to compensate.

A finger sweep is only to be used in which client population

unconscious adult

A patient is brought to the ED by a friend, who states that a tree fell on the patient's leg and crushed it while they were cutting firewood. What priority actions should the nurse perform? (Select all that apply.)

* Applying a clean dressing to protect the wound * Elevating the site to limit the accumulation of fluid in the interstitial spaces * Splinting the wound in a position of rest to prevent motion Explanation Major soft tissue injuries are dressed and splinted promptly to control bleeding and pain. If an extremity is injured, it is elevated to relieve swelling and pressure.

The nurse is administering 100% oxygen to a patient with carbon monoxide poisoning and obtains a carboxyhemoglobin level. Which level would the nurse interpret as indicating that oxygen therapy can be discontinued?

4% Oxygen is administered until the carboxyhemoglobin level is less than 5%.

A backcountry skier has been airlifted to the ED after becoming lost and developing hypothermia and frostbite. How should the nurse best manage the client's frostbite?

A) Immerse affected extremities in water slightly above normal body temperature.

The nurse is caring for a client in the ED with frostbite to the left hand. During the rewarming process of the hand, the nurse should perform which action?

Administer analgesic medications as ordered. Explanation: During rewarming, an analgesic for pain is administered as prescribed because the rewarming process may be very painful. Frozen extremities are usually placed in a 37°C to 40°C (98.6°F to 104°F) circulating bath for 30- to 40-minute spans. This treatment is repeated until circulation is effectively restored. Hemorrhagic blebs, which may develop 1 hour to a few days after rewarming, are left intact and unruptured. Nonhemorrhagic blisters are debrided to decrease the inflammatory mediators found in the blister fluid. After rewarming, hourly active motion of any affected digits is encouraged to promote maximal restoration of function and to prevent contractures.

A female patient was sexually assaulted when leaving work. When assisting with the physical examination, what nursing interventions should be provided? (Select all that apply.)

Assess and document any bruises and lacerations. Record a history of the event, using the patient's own words. Label all torn or bloody clothes and place each item in a separate brown bag so that any evidence can be given to the police.

The ED staff work collaboratively and follow the ABCDE method to establish and treat health priorities effectively in a client experiencing a trauma. Which action is completed by the nurse when implementing the "D" element of this method?

Assessing the client's Glasgow Coma Scale score Explanation The primary survey focuses on stabilizing life-threatening conditions. The ED staff work collaboratively and follow the ABCDE (airway, breathing, circulation, disability, exposure) method. While implementing the D element, the nurse determines neurologic disability by assessing neurologic function using the Glasgow Coma Scale and performing a motor and sensory evaluation of the spine. A quick neurologic assessment may be performed using the AVPU mnemonic: A, alert: is the client alert and responsive? V, verbal: does the client respond to verbal stimuli? P, pain: does the client respond only to painful stimuli? U, unresponsive: is the client unresponsive to all stimuli, including pain? The other interventions are not included in this element of the primary survey.

A client is admitted to the ED with suspected alcohol intoxication. The ED nurse is aware of the need to assess for conditions that can mimic acute alcohol intoxication. In light of this need, the nurse should perform what action?

Check the client's blood glucose level. Explanation Hypoglycemia can mimic alcohol intoxication and should be assessed in a client suspected of alcohol intoxication. Potassium imbalances, depression, and poison ingestion are not noted to mimic the characteristic signs and symptoms of alcohol intoxication.

A client presents to the ED following a motor vehicle collision. The client is suspected of having internal hemorrhage. The nurse assesses the client for signs and symptoms of shock. Which are signs and symptoms of shock? Select all that apply.

Cool, moist skin Decreasing blood pressure Delayed capillary refill Increasing heart rate Explanation Signs and symptoms of shock include cool, moist skin (resulting from poor peripheral perfusion), decreasing blood pressure, increasing heart rate, delayed capillary refill, and decreasing urine volume.