Question

The nurse is the first responder at the scene of a six-car crash on a highway. Which victims should the nurse attend to first?

a.Those with visible injuries
b.Those lying unconscious
c.Those who are bleeding heavily
d.Those who are breathing but in a state of confusion

Answer 1

The nurse should prioritize victims who are bleeding heavily or unconscious, as they are at the highest immediate risk of death in a multi-car crash scene.

Step-by-step explanation:

A nurse who is the first responder at the scene of a six-car crash should initially attend to those who are at greatest risk of death. Priority should be given to those who are bleeding heavily because they are at risk of losing a significant amount of blood and may quickly become hemodynamically unstable. Unconscious victims are another priority, as they may have suffered significant injuries such as head trauma or may be in a life-threatening condition such as shock or cardiac arrest. While victims with visible injuries and those who are confused but breathing may also require urgent care, they are not generally at as high an immediate risk as those who are bleeding heavily or unconscious.