An obstetric nurse comes across an automobile accident. The driver seems to have a crushed upper airway, and while waiting for emergency medical services to arrive, the nurse makes a cut in the trachea and inserts a straw from a purse to provide an airway. The patient survives and has a permanent problem with vocal cords, making it difficult to talk. Which statement is true regarding the nurse's performance?
The nurse stayed within the guidelines of the Good Samaritan Law.
The nurse acted appropriately and saved the patient's life.
The nurse should have just stayed with the patient and waited for help.
The nurse took actions beyond those that are standard and appropriate.
The Correct Answer is D
A. The Good Samaritan Law typically protects individuals who provide care in emergency situations but may not apply if the actions taken are beyond the standard of care or are not in the nurse's training.
B. While the nurse's intention was to save the patient's life, the method employed was not a recognized standard procedure for airway management and may have caused harm.
C. Waiting for help may not have been an appropriate option if the patient's airway was compromised, but the method employed by the nurse was not advisable.
D. Cutting into the trachea and using a straw as a makeshift airway are actions that exceed the typical scope of nursing practice and could be deemed inappropriate, regardless of the outcome for the patient.
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Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Continuing with the injection after seeing blood return increases the risk of injecting into a blood vessel, which is not safe for IM injections.
B. Administering at a slower rate does not address the issue of possible intravascular injection.
C. If blood is aspirated, the correct procedure is to withdraw the needle, dispose of the medication, and prepare a new dose to prevent intravascular administration, as IM injections are meant to be given into muscle tissue, not into a vein.
D. Pulling the needle back slightly is not recommended because it does not ensure that the needle is completely out of the blood vessel.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. An air vent allowing bubbles into the blood would be unsafe and can cause air embolism, so this option is incorrect.
B. Using tubing with a filter is standard practice for blood transfusions to prevent clots and debris from entering the patient’s bloodstream, making this the correct choice.
C. Mixing additional electrolytes into the blood is not a standard practice during transfusions, as it can cause complications; thus, this option is not appropriate.
D. Two-way valves are not typically used in blood transfusion setups; the goal is to keep the blood product separate from other fluids unless specifically indicated.