A client is admitted to the emergency department with a stab wound of the chest. Which is a priority nursing assessment?1Level of pain2Quality and depth of respirations3Amount of serosanguinous drainage4Blood pressure and pupillary response
In the case of a client admitted to the emergency department with a stab wound of the chest, the priority nursing assessment would be the quality and depth of respirations (option 2)
In the case of a client admitted to the emergency department with a stab wound of the chest, the priority nursing assessment would be the quality and depth of respirations (option 2).
When a patient experiences a chest injury, it can potentially lead to a life-threatening condition such as a pneumothorax or tension pneumothorax, which can impede proper breathing. Therefore, assessing the quality and depth of respirations is crucial to determine if the patient’s airway is compromised and if immediate intervention such as intubation or needle decompression is necessary.
Assessing other factors like the level of pain (option 1), amount of serosanguinous drainage (option 3), and blood pressure and pupillary response (option 4) are important but secondary to the assessment of respiratory status. Once the patient’s breathing is stabilized, these other assessments can be addressed.
It is important to recognize that this response assumes the patient is conscious and able to communicate. In cases where the patient is unconscious or unable to communicate, the priority would then be to assess the airway and initiate interventions to maintain respiration.
More Answers:
Priority Nursing Assessments for a Client with Multiple Crushing Wounds: A Comprehensive Approach to Evaluate Neurological Function, Pain Severity, Circulation, and Abdominal ContusionsMaintaining a Patent Airway and Respiratory Function After Laryngectomy: The Importance of Clearing Tracheal Secretions
The Importance of Assessing Oxygen Saturation Levels in Heart Failure Patients: A Crucial Nursing Intervention