A patient admitted to the emergency department after a traumatic injury is becoming more and more lethargic and hard to arouse. Periods of apnea are increasing. To protect the patient's airway, the nurse should prepare to assist with which intervention?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Intubation is necessary to protect the patient's airway if they are becoming lethargic and experiencing apnea. Monitoring oxygen saturation and assessing breath sounds may be helpful in determining the patient's respiratory status, but they do not address the immediate concern of protecting the airway. Asking the patient about difficulty breathing may not be effective if they are already becoming lethargic and unresponsive.

A Patient Admitted to the Emergency Department After a Traumatic