Question

A nurse is triaging clients after a tornado disaster. A 22-year-old client being triaged has asymmetrical chest movement, shortness of breath and absent lung sounds on the left side. What category of triage should the nurse place this client at?

1) Nonurgent Class III
2) Emergent Class I
3) Expectant Class IV
4) Urgent Class II

Answer 1

The 22-year-old client in a tornado disaster with severe respiratory distress should be categorized as Emergent Class I, indicating immediate need for medical intervention due to life-threatening conditions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question pertains to a tornado disaster scenario where a triage nurse must categorize patients based on the urgency of their medical needs. The 22-year-old client with asymmetrical chest movement, shortness of breath, and absent lung sounds on one side is exhibiting signs of a potential pneumothorax or another severe impairment of respiratory function. Such a condition would impede the client’s ability to breathe and require immediate medical attention to prevent further deterioration or death. Therefore, the correct triage category for this client would be Emergent Class I, which is reserved for those who have life-threatening injuries and need immediate treatment to survive.