Question

You are working in an emergency department as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). An adolescent boy is brought in, unconscious, with a head injury after being struck by a car. He has no identification, and there is no parent or adult with him. What should you do?

1. Provide the appropriate medical treatment even if it involves surgery.
2. Do everything except order a blood transfusion, even if it is indicated, because you do not know the client's religious preferences.
3. Call the hospital attorney before instituting any care.
4. Contact all local police stations in an attempt to identify the client and find his parents before instituting treatment.

Answer 1

In the given scenario, as an APRN in an emergency department, the appropriate course of action would be to provide the appropriate medical treatment, including surgery if necessary, to stabilize the unconscious adolescent boy with a head injury and no identification or parent present.

Step-by-step explanation:

When presented with an unconscious adolescent boy with a head injury and no identification or parent present, as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) in an emergency department, the appropriate course of action would be to prioritize the provision of medical treatment for the boy. The first step should be to conduct a rapid assessment of his neurological function to evaluate the severity of the head injury. This would involve assessing his level of consciousness, pupillary response, motor function, and vital signs. Following the assessment, appropriate medical interventions should be initiated, such as immobilizing the spine, addressing any airway or breathing concerns, controlling bleeding, and obtaining necessary imaging studies.

It is important to provide medical treatment based on the clinical presentation and urgency of the situation, rather than making assumptions about the patient's preferences or attempting to identify the client and find his parents before instituting treatment.

Therefore, the correct course of action would be to provide the appropriate medical treatment, including surgery if necessary, to stabilize the boy's condition and ensure his well-being.