Practice Question
The nurse is providing care for a client who is unconscious. What nursing intervention takes highest priority?
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
Maintaining a patent airway
Rationale:
🔵 Airway patency is the top priority in an unconscious client because without oxygen delivery, brain injury and death can occur within minutes.
🔵 The unconscious state increases the risk for airway obstruction from the tongue, secretions, or aspiration.
🔵 ABC principles (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) dictate that airway comes before all other interventions.
🔵 Proper airway maintenance supports oxygenation and ventilation, preventing hypoxia and respiratory arrest.
🔵 All other interventions (I&O, NG tube, pain control) are secondary to ensuring the client can breathe.
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This question is from Med surg exam( river valley college) which contains 68 questions.
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Question Details
- Category: RN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: General Exams
- Domain: Medical-surgical📚
- Answer Choices: 4