Christensen: Foundations and Adult Health Nursing, 6th Edition

Chapter 24: Emergency First Aid Nursing Open Book Quiz 1. Explain the Good Samaritan law and describe what a nurse must do to be protected from legal problems. (See page 738 in your textbook.) 2. Under what conditions may a nurse discontinue CPR? (See page 739 in your textbook.) 3. What is the difference between clinical death, biologic death, and brain death? (See page 739 in your textbook.) 4. Describe the procedure for determining breathlessness. (See page 740 in your textbook.) 5. Describe adult two-person CPR when one-rescuer CPR is in progress. (See page 742 in your textbook.) 6. How is shock classified and name the different causes. (See page 746 in your textbook.) 7. Explain the difference between direct pressure and indirect pressure when treating bleeding. (See page 748 in your textbook.) 8. What are the basic rules for first aid treatment after the ABCs? (See page 750 in your textbook.) 9. Describe the difference between a laceration and an avulsion and explain how they should be treated. (See page 751 in your textbook.) 10. What are the interventions in the treatment of heat exhaustion? (See page 756 in your textbook.)

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ANSWERS 1. The Good Samaritan law is a legal stipulation for protection of those who provide first aid in an emergency situation. These laws have been enacted in most states to protect health professional from legal liability when providing emergency first aid. If the nurse follows a reasonable and prudent course of action, the chances of legal problems are small. After the nurse has initiated first aid, he or she has a moral and legal obligation to continue the aid until the victim can be cared for by someone with comparable or better training. 2. The victim recovers; the rescuer is exhausted and cannot continue CPR; trained medical personnel arrive on the scene and take over CPR; a licensed physician arrives on the scene, pronounces the victim dead, and orders CPR to be discontinued. 3. Clinical death means that heartbeat and respiration have ceased. Biologic death results from permanent cellular damage caused by lack of oxygen. Brain death is an irreversible form of unconsciousness characterized by a complete loss of brain function while the heart continues to beat. 4. Look for the rise and fall of the chest, listen for sounds of breathing, and feel for the warmth of the victims mouth against the cheek. 5. The most logical time for entrance of the second rescuer is after a completed cycle of 15 compressions and 2 slow breaths. The second rescuer identifies himself or herself by saying I know two-person CPR, moves to the head, opens the airway, and checks for pulse. The other rescuer takes position at the chest and finds the proper hand placement for chest compressions (15 chest compressions for every 2 slow breaths). 6. Shock is classified according to its cause. Causes include severe loss of blood, intense pain, extensive trauma, burns, poisons, emotional stress or intense emotions, extremes of heat and cold, electrical shock, allergic reactions, and a sudden or severe illness. 7. Direct pressure is accomplished by placing a dressing over the wound and applying firm pressure. Then a bandage should be applied with the knot tied snugly over the wound to exert direct pressure. Indirect pressure may be applied to any of the pressure points situated along main arteries. To apply indirect pressure, the fingers or the heel of the hand is used to compress the artery against an underlying bone located between the heart and the wound. 8. Stop bleeding, treat for shock, and prevent infection. 9. Lacerations are wounds that are torn with jagged, irregular edges. An avulsion is a torn piece of tissue that results in a section being completely removed or left hanging by a flap. Lacerations should be carefully cleaned and bleeding controlled by applying pressure. Use adhesive strips, Steri-Strips, or a butterfly bandage to close the edges of the laceration. Avulsions should be cleaned and bleeding is controlled by direct pressure. 10. The victim must be cooled off as quickly as possible; move the victim to a cool area but avoid chilling. Use of cold, wet compresses and a fan is recommended. As much clothing

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as possible should be removed and constrictive clothing loosened. The victim should lie down with the feet 8 to 12 inches higher than the head. If victim is completely conscious and alert, give one-half glass of water every 15 minutes for 1 hour.

Mosby items and derived items 2011, 2006, 2003, 1999, 1995, 1991 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.