The nurse witnesses an accident whereby a pedestrian is hit by an automobile. the nurse stops at the scene and assesses the vict
im. the nurse notes that the victim is responsive and has suffered trauma to the thorax resulting in a flail chest involving at least three ribs. what is the nurse's priority action for this victim
In this scenario, the nurse's first priority is to apply sufficient yet gentle pressure to the flail segment in order to avoid exacerbating the injury while awaiting the arrival of EMS. This approach is crucial because moving the patient without proper care could lead to more severe complications. It is recommended to maintain this pressure until EMS arrives with the necessary equipment for such situations.
