Final answer:
An 8-month-old infant with a partial airway obstruction should be given up to five back slaps with the infant's head downward. Chest thrusts, not abdominal thrusts, should be used if necessary. Immediate medical attention is required if these steps do not clear the obstruction.
Step-by-step explanation:
To perform the Heimlich maneuver on an 8-month-old infant with a partial airway obstruction, the nurse should take a different approach than with an adult. First, it is advised to give up to five back slaps, turning the baby upside down and holding them with their head lower than their chest. If this doesn’t work, the nurse should do chest thrusts instead of abdominal thrusts, placing two or three fingers in the center of the infant’s chest just below the nipple line and pressing sharply upwards. Always support the infant’s head and avoid compressing the soft tissues of the neck or the lower ribcage to prevent injuries. If the obstruction does not clear after back slaps and chest thrusts, emergency medical care must be called immediately.
It's essential to differentiate how the Heimlich maneuver is adapted for an infant versus an adult or older child. For a choking individual who is older, initially encouraging them to cough and giving a few hardback slaps is the correct method. However, with infants, avoid abdominal thrusts due to the risk of causing internal injuries. For an infant, back slaps and chest thrusts are the appropriate and safer alternatives.