Question

A client arrives in the emergency department with a chemical eye injury. The nurse immediately:

A. Instills a local anesthetic into the affected eye.
B. Flushes the eye with copious amounts of water.
C. Applies an eye patch to protect the eye.
D. Administers oral pain medication.

Answer 1

The correct response to a chemical eye injury is to flush the eye with copious amounts of water. Immediate action is essential to prevent further damage and potential systemic toxicity from chemical absorption.

Step-by-step explanation:

A client arriving in the emergency department with a chemical eye injury should have immediate action taken to minimize the damage. The correct response would be B. Flushes the eye with copious amounts of water. This is the most urgent step to dilute and wash away the chemical to prevent further injury to the eye. While ethyl chloride can be used as a local anesthetic on the skin, it is not the correct treatment for a chemical eye injury. It is important to act quickly, as chemicals can be absorbed through the skin or mucous membranes, potentially leading to systemic toxicity.