Question

A nurse in the emergency department is triaging clients following a mass casualty event. The nurse should identify which of the following clients as emergent?

A) A client who has a punctured femoral artery
B) A client who has multiple fractures
C) A client who has a red rash over his abdomen
D) A client who reports severe flank pain radiating to the groin

Answer 1

The nurse should identify the client who has a punctured femoral artery as emergent in a mass casualty event. This situation poses an immediate threat to life due to the potential for significant blood loss and requires rapid treatment within the emergency department triage system.

Step-by-step explanation:

The client that should be identified as emergent is A) A client who has a punctured femoral artery. This condition represents an immediate threat to life due to the high risk of significant blood loss and the potential for shock, which requires rapid intervention to prevent mortality. In a mass casualty event, the triage process prioritizes those with life-threatening injuries that are immediately correctable, and a punctured femoral artery fits this criterion.

Other clients mentioned, such as those with multiple fractures (B), a red rash (C), or severe flank pain (D), while they also need medical attention, do not typically present with the same level of urgency as active arterial bleeding. Therefore, the priority is to address life-threatening conditions like a compromised airway, uncontrolled hemorrhage, or shock as part of the emergency department protocols.