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. Notifying the health care provider is not the most appropriate first action, as parental consent is needed.
B. Contacting the United Network for Organ Sharing is premature without consent from the parents.
C. Since the patient is a minor, parental consent is generally required for organ donation. Instructing the patient to discuss this desire with their parents is essential for obtaining legal consent.
D. Preparing the organ donation form is also premature, as minors cannot legally consent without parental approval.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. "Readiness for enhanced urinary elimination" is classified as a health promotion diagnosis, indicating the patient’s desire to improve their health condition and adopt new health behaviors.
B. A risk diagnosis is used when there is a potential for problems to occur, not applicable in this scenario as the patient is actively seeking improvement.
C. A problem-focused diagnosis describes an existing problem that requires intervention; this situation reflects readiness for improvement, not an existing issue.
D. A collaborative problem involves potential complications that require both nursing and medical management; this case focuses on the patient's willingness to learn a self-management skill rather than managing a specific medical problem.