Question

A nurse working on the cardiac unit hears an alarm and finds one of the heart monitor screens at the nurse's station is displaying a straight line, indicating a client is in cardiac arrest. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

A. Check on the client.
B. Unlock the crash cart.
C. Begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
D. Announce a code.

Answer 1

First, the nurse should immediately check on the client to confirm the cardiac arrest, and then begin CPR and other resuscitation measures as needed.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a nurse working on the cardiac unit hears an alarm and observes a monitor displaying a straight line, indicating a potential cardiac arrest, the first action the nurse should take is to check on the client. This ensures that the alarm is not false and that the client is actually in need of immediate intervention. After verifying the condition of the client, if cardiac arrest is confirmed, the nurse would proceed to begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), announce a code if necessary, and unlock the crash cart equipped with essential tools such as an automated external defibrillator (AED) for defibrillation. CPR is crucial as it can maintain the flow of blood to vital organs, especially the brain, by applying pressure to the sternum between the T4 and T9 vertebrae, effectively compressing the heart and maintaining circulation.