Question

The nurse finds a group of injured clients after a catastrophic event. Which client does the nurse see first?

1. A restless client with a rigid abdomen and absent bowel sounds.
2. An unconscious client with a left-sided tracheal shift from the midline.
3. A client reporting excruciating pain with an obvious deformity of the left leg.
4. A client clutching the chest and reporting severe chest pain.

Answer 1

The unconscious client with a left-sided tracheal shift should be seen first by the nurse, as this indicates a potentially fatal condition that demands immediate intervention.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question pertains to triage, which is the process of determining the priority of patients' treatments based on the severity of their condition. In a catastrophic event, a nurse must quickly identify which client requires immediate attention. The nurse should see the client exhibiting signs of a life-threatening condition first.

The unconscious client with a left-sided tracheal shift represents the most severe condition among the options presented, indicating a possible tension pneumothorax, which can rapidly become fatal without intervention. Although all the scenarios outlined are serious, the tracheal shift requires the most urgent care to re-establish normal breathing patterns and prevent further complications, including cardiac arrest.

The other clients, while also in need of medical attention, do not exhibit signs that are as immediately life-threatening as the unconscious client with a tracheal shift. It's critical for healthcare providers to make swift, informed decisions during emergencies to ensure the best possible outcomes for the greatest number of people.