The nurse assesses a client who suffered chest trauma and finds that the left chest sucks in during inhalation and out during exhalation.The client's oxygen saturation has dropped from 94% to 86%.What is the priority action by the nurse?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This client has a flail chest characterized by paradoxical chest wall motion.With the oxygen saturation dropping,the client is at high risk for respiratory failure and needs to be intubated.Deep-breathing exercises are not enough at this point.Rib binders are not used anymore because they limit chest wall expansion and were used only for simple rib fractures.

The Nurse Assesses a Client Who Suffered Chest Trauma and Finds