A nurse performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a 92-year-old with brittle bones and breaks a rib during the procedure, which then punctures a lung. The patient recovers completely without any residual problems and sues the nurse for pain and suffering and for malpractice. Which key point will the prosecution attempt to prove against the nurse?
The patient would have died if nothing was done.
The CPR procedure was done incorrectly.
The patient was resuscitated according to the policy.
The older patient with brittle bones might sustain fractures when chest compressions are done.
The Correct Answer is B
A. While the patient may have been in a life-threatening situation, this point is not necessarily a direct indictment of the nurse’s actions but rather a justification for performing CPR.
B. The prosecution will likely focus on whether the CPR was performed according to accepted standards of care. If it can be shown that the technique was inappropriate or negligent, this would support the claim of malpractice.
C. Performing CPR according to policy may serve as a defense for the nurse, emphasizing adherence to established protocols.
D. While it is true that older adults with brittle bones may be at risk for fractures, this is a known risk of CPR, and the prosecution will aim to demonstrate specific negligence or failure in technique rather than just acknowledging inherent risks.
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Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Hyperkalemia can lead to dangerous cardiac arrhythmias and other heart-related complications due to its effect on the electrical conduction system of the heart, making cardiac assessment the priority.
B. While neurological assessment is important in various conditions, it is secondary to assessing cardiac status in hyperkalemia.
C. Gastrointestinal symptoms can occur with hyperkalemia, but they do not pose an immediate life-threatening risk like cardiac issues do.
D. Respiratory assessment is essential in many contexts, but the immediate threat of hyperkalemia lies in its impact on heart function, making cardiac assessment the most critical.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. A patient with hypercapnia requires monitoring, but wearing an oxygen mask indicates some level of intervention is in place.
B. A patient with a chest tube should never ambulate with the chest tube unclamped, as this can lead to a collapsed lung and respiratory distress; thus, this patient should be prioritized.
C. While a patient with thick secretions may need suctioning, this is not as critical as ensuring the safety of a patient with an unclamped chest tube.
D. A patient with a new tracheostomy requires monitoring, but the presence of the obturator indicates readiness for emergencies; this does not take priority over the safety of the patient with the chest tube.