Question

An emergency room nurse assesses a patient who was rescued from a home fire. The patient suddenly develops a loud, brassy cough. What action would the nurse take first? a. Administer oxygen therapy b. Notify the physician c. Perform a chest X-ray d. Start CPR

Answer 1

The correct answer is A) Administer oxygen therapy. A loud, brassy cough is a sign of inhalation injury, which is a serious complication of exposure to smoke and fire. Inhalation injury can damage the airway and lungs, causing respiratory distress and hypoxia1. The first action by the nurse is to give the patient oxygen therapy to improve oxygenation and prevent further tissue damage. The nurse should also monitor the patient’s vital signs, pulse oximetry, and respiratory status continuously. The physician should be notified as soon as possible, but oxygen therapy should not be delayed. A chest X-ray may be ordered to assess the extent of lung injury, but it is not the first priority. CPR is only indicated if the patient has no pulse or breathing, which is not stated in the question. Therefore, the best action by the nurse is to administer oxygen therapy as soon as possible.