Question

A nurse in an emergency department is assessing an older adult client who has a fractured wrist following a fall. During the assessment, the client states, "Last week I crashed my car because my vision suddenly became blurry." Which of the following actions is the nurse's priority?

A) Immobilizing the wrist
B) Notifying the provider
C) Assessing for other injuries
D) Administering pain medication

Answer 1

The nurse's priority should be to notify the provider due to the client's statement about blurry vision and a recent car crash, which raises concern for an underlying medical condition that may have contributed to the fall and wrist fracture.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse's priority in this situation would be to notify the provider. The client's statement about sudden blurry vision and a recent car crash raises concern for a possible underlying medical condition that may have contributed to the fall and wrist fracture. The nurse should inform the healthcare provider promptly to ensure a comprehensive assessment and appropriate intervention for the client.

While it is important to immobilize the wrist to prevent further injury and provide comfort to the client, it is not the highest priority in this scenario. Assessing for other injuries is also important, but the client's statement about blurry vision indicates a need for further evaluation of a potential medical issue. Administering pain medication can be done after the provider has been notified and assessed the client.