A young man is admitted to the emergency department with a stab wound to the right chest.He has moderate bleeding from the site,and his vital signs show symptoms of shock.Air can be heard entering his chest with each inspiration.To decrease the possibility of a tension pneumothorax in the patient,what should the nurse do?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Applying a nonporous dressing taped on three sides to the chest wound creates a one-way valve that allows air and blood to escape from the chest cavity but prevents air from entering. This helps prevent a tension pneumothorax, which can be life-threatening. Positioning the patient on his injured side or administering high-flow oxygen using a nonrebreathing mask are not effective interventions for a tension pneumothorax. Covering a sucking chest wound with a petrolatum gauze dressing would be appropriate, but it is not the best choice for preventing a tension pneumothorax.

A Young Man Is Admitted to the Emergency Department with a Stab