The nurse observes that the patient's right pedal pulses are absent and the leg is swollen. The nurse's first action should be to:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This assessment may indicate the patient has an arterial trauma and hemorrhage. Since this is a possibly life-threatening injury is found during the primary survey, the nurse should immediately start interventions before proceeding with the survey. Although a CBC is indicated, administration of IV fluids should be started first. The nurse can complete the primary survey and further assessment after the IV fluids are initiated.

The Nurse Observes That the Patient's Right Pedal Pulses Are