You are assessing a male patient who was stabbed three times in the chest and abdomen. As you begin your primary assessment, you note him to have a decreased level of consciousness and gurgling respirations. Your next action would be to:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The presence of gurgling respirations suggests an obstructed airway, which can be life-threatening. The immediate action should be to suction the airway to clear any obstacles and facilitate breathing. Checking the pulse can wait until the airway is clear, and obtaining an SpO₂ reading or applying a cervical collar would not address the primary concern of airway obstruction.

You Are Assessing a Male Patient Who Was Stabbed Three