Your patient is a 66-year-old female who has regained a pulse after a shock with an AED; however,she remains unresponsive and is not breathing adequately.Which of the following should be done next?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient is still unresponsive and not breathing adequately, so the next step should be to assist ventilations with a bag-valve-mask device and supplemental oxygen. It is important to continue monitoring the pulse and be prepared for the possibility of the patient going back into cardiac arrest. Delivering another shock would not address the patient's respiratory status, and removing the AED would remove the ability to monitor the patient's cardiac rhythm. Applying a nonrebreather mask would provide high-concentration oxygen, but would not address the need for assisted ventilations.

Your Patient Is a 66-Year-Old Female Who Has Regained a Pulse