Question

The nurse is caring for a child in the emergency department who is sitting forward, drooling, and has inspiratory stridor. Which of the following would be the priority action by the nurse?

only one is correct

1. Obtain supplies for an emergency intubation

2. Lay the child on their back to ease respiratory efforts

3. Administer acetaminophen for fever

4. Visualize the throat with a tongue depressor

Answer 1

A child having inspiratory strider, drooling and sits forward, it most likely due to the airway obstruction. Sometimes due to any foreign body obstruction, epiglottitis or may be due to any laryngeal tumor.

In case of children, the most likely reason of airway obstruction is due to any foreign body.

So the immediate action of the nurse is to visualize the throat with a tongue depression inorder to check whether any foreign body is present at the airway.

Only after that obtain supplies for emergency intubation if necessary.