A nurse is assisting with lunch at a nursing home. Suddenly, one of the residents begins to choke and is unable to breathe. The nurse assesses the resident’s ability to breathe and then begins CPR. Why did the nurse assess respiratory status?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Step-by-step rationale for why answer A is correct:
1. Assessing respiratory status is crucial during a choking incident to identify if the resident is unable to breathe.
2. In this scenario, the resident's inability to breathe indicates a life-threatening problem requiring immediate intervention.
3. CPR is initiated based on the assessment of the resident's breathing difficulty, emphasizing the critical nature of identifying a life-threatening issue.
4. The assessment of respiratory status directly informs the nurse's actions to address the immediate danger of choking.
Summary:
- Choice A is correct as assessing respiratory status helps identify life-threatening issues like choking.
- Choice B is incorrect as the primary focus is on immediate intervention, not establishing a database.
- Choice C is incorrect as the assessment is not for skill practice but for identifying a critical situation.
- Choice D is incorrect as the goal is not to facilitate breathing but to address the immediate life-threatening problem.