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 A
Explanation
A. "Acute pain" is a NANDA-I approved nursing diagnosis that identifies a specific condition that nursing interventions can address.
B. "Sore throat" is a symptom rather than a nursing diagnosis and does not appear in NANDA-I.
C. "Sleep apnea" is classified as a medical diagnosis and not as a nursing diagnosis within NANDA-I.
D. "Heart failure" is also a medical diagnosis and not an approved nursing diagnosis, as it describes a condition rather than the patient's response or nursing concerns.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
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.