Question

You respond to the scene of a motor-vehicle collision. Upon arrival, you find a young female sitting on the curb. Other than a small abrasion to her forehead, she does not appear to be seriously injured. As you are performing your initial assessment on the patient, a police officer advises you that her husband, the driver of the vehicle, was killed in the accident. What is your MOST appropriate next action?

A) Complete the initial assessment and perform a rapid trauma assessment.
B) Obtain the patient's vital signs and ask her if she wants to be transported.
C) Fully immobilize the patient's spine and transport her to a trauma center.
D) Perform a focused exam on the patient with emphasis on her forehead.

Answer 1

The most appropriate next action is to prioritize the patient's emotional well-being and provide psychological support.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most appropriate next action in this situation is to prioritize the patient's emotional well-being and provide psychological support.

Option A is not the most appropriate next action because performing a full trauma assessment is not necessary for a patient who does not appear to be seriously injured.

Option B is not the most appropriate next action because obtaining vital signs and asking about transport should come secondary to addressing the patient's emotional needs.

Option C is not the most appropriate next action because fully immobilizing the patient's spine and transporting her to a trauma center is excessive for a patient with only a small abrasion to the forehead.

Option D is not the most appropriate next action because performing a focused exam on the patient's forehead is not a priority compared to addressing the emotional impact of her husband's death.