Final answer:
When preparing a patient in cardiac arrest for an AED and a small lump is found below their right clavicle, you should place the AED pads in the general area needed while keeping them several inches away from the lump to avoid any interference with possible medical devices under the skin.
Step-by-step explanation:
If you discover a small lump below the patient's right clavicle while preparing them for an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) during cardiac arrest, it is important to modify the placement of the AED pads. The lump could be a medical implant such as a pacemaker or an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), and placing AED pads directly over it may interfere with the function of the device or cause harm to the patient. Therefore, the suitable answer to the question is to place the pads in the general area you need them while keeping them several inches away from the lump. This means that you should follow standard AED placement— one pad on the upper right side of the chest and the other on the lower left side of the chest— making sure that the pads are not over the lump, medical device, or any patches that may indicate an underlying device.
CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is recommended before using an AED to increase the chances of a successful resuscitation. The device provides verbal instructions and is capable of analyzing the heart rhythm, delivering a shock with appropriate energy to potentially save the patient's life by terminating arrhythmias and allowing the natural pacemaker to resume a normal rhythm.