A 10-year-old child is brought to the emergency department by the rescue squad from the scene of a house fire.The child is confused and agitated.Which action by the nurse is the priority for this child?
A) Assess the child for a head injury.
B) Give the child 100% oxygen.
C) Obtain a complete history of the fire.
D) Wait for the parents to obtain consent.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The child's confusion and agitation indicate hypoxemia,which is common in victims of fires.The nurse should treat the child first as an emergency,and then obtain consent when the parents arrive (if they are conscious and able to give consent).A head injury can cause confusion and agitation,but with the history of being in a fire,inhalation injuries would be suspected first.A complete history of the fire can wait,but will ultimately be important to obtain.

A 10-Year-Old Child Is Brought to the Emergency Department by the Rescue