Critical Care Nursing Exam Questions Related

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A 22-year-old patient who experienced a near-drowning accident in a local pool, but now is awake and breathing spontaneously, is admitted for observation. Which assessment will be most important for the nurse to take during the observation period?

  • A. Auscultate heart sounds.
  • B. Palpate peripheral pulses.
  • C. Auscultate breath sounds.
  • D. Check pupil reaction to light.
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Auscultate breath sounds. After a near-drowning incident, the main concern is potential respiratory complications such as aspiration pneumonia or pulmonary edema. Auscultating breath sounds will help the nurse assess for any signs of respiratory distress or complications. This assessment is crucial for early detection and intervention.

A: Auscultating heart sounds is important but not as crucial as assessing breath sounds in this scenario.
B: Palpating peripheral pulses is important for circulation assessment but does not address the immediate concern of respiratory complications.
D: Checking pupil reaction to light is more relevant for neurological assessment and not as critical as assessing breathing in this situation.