Which nursing intervention would the nurse perform first for a client with multiple injuries resulting from a severe motor vehicle accident?

Which nursing intervention would the nurse perform first for a client with multiple injuries resulting from a severe motor vehicle accident?

• A. Provide Bag-Valve-Mask Ventilation
• B. Administer Glucose by Intravenous Route
• C. Apply Direct Pressure to the Severe Bleeding Areas
• D. Insert Large-Bore Peripheral Intravenous Lines in the Antecubital Area

Answer: (A)

The priority in a severe trauma case is securing the airway and ensuring adequate breathing. If the patient isn’t ventilating effectively or there’s a risk of airway obstruction, providing bag-valve-mask ventilation immediately maintains oxygenation and ventilation, buying time to address other injuries. Without this step, efforts to control bleeding or establish IV access won’t prevent hypoxia and potential brain or organ injury. Direct pressure to severe bleeding is crucial, but it follows airway management because without oxygenation, even perfect hemorrhage control can't sustain the patient. Administering glucose would only be indicated if hypoglycemia is suspected, which isn’t the universal first step in this scenario. Establishing large-bore IV lines is important for fluid resuscitation, but airway and breathing take precedence.

The priority in a severe trauma case is securing the airway and ensuring adequate breathing. If the patient isn’t ventilating effectively or there’s a risk of airway obstruction, providing bag-valve-mask ventilation immediately maintains oxygenation and ventilation, buying time to address other injuries. Without this step, efforts to control bleeding or establish IV access won’t prevent hypoxia and potential brain or organ injury.

Direct pressure to severe bleeding is crucial, but it follows airway management because without oxygenation, even perfect hemorrhage control can't sustain the patient. Administering glucose would only be indicated if hypoglycemia is suspected, which isn’t the universal first step in this scenario. Establishing large-bore IV lines is important for fluid resuscitation, but airway and breathing take precedence.