A hospitalized patient has become unresponsive. The left side of the body is flaccid. The attending physician believes the patient may have had a stroke (CVA). What is the nurse's priority intervention?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Assessing the airway and breathing is the nurse's priority intervention in an unresponsive patient. The flaccid left side may indicate a stroke, but ensuring the patient's airway is clear and breathing is adequate is the immediate concern. Once the airway and breathing are stable, other assessments, such as blood pressure and urinary output, can be done. Moving the patient to the critical care unit may be necessary, but not as an immediate intervention.

A Hospitalized Patient Has Become Unresponsive