Hurst Readiness Practice Exam

The client with a sucking chest wound and tension pneumothorax should be treated first due to the immediate life-threatening nature of their injuries. A tension pneumothorax occurs when air becomes trapped in the pleural cavity, leading to increased pressure on the lungs and mediastinum. This can quickly result in compromised respiratory function and cardiovascular collapse if not addressed promptly.

In the context of trauma care, prioritizing interventions that will rapidly stabilize the airway, breathing, and circulation is critical. This condition requires emergency treatment, typically with the decompression of the pleural space, which can save the client’s life by restoring normal respiratory function and alleviating pressure on the heart and major vessels.

Other clients present serious conditions, such as the unresponsive client with an open head fracture and the comatose client with fixed and dilated pupils, but their injuries, while severe, might not pose the immediate, acute threat to life that the tension pneumothorax does. The client with extremely low blood pressure and heart rate is also in a dire situation, but immediate airway and breathing interventions take precedence in emergency settings, where restoring adequate ventilation can be crucial for survival.