A client with a pulmonary embolus has the following arterial blood gas (ABG) values: pH, 7.49; partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2), 60 mm Hg; partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2), 30 mm Hg; bicarbonate (HCO3-) 25 mEq/L. What should the nurse do first?
a) Instruct the client to breathe into a paper bag.
b) Administer oxygen by nasal cannula as prescribed.
c) Auscultate breath sounds bilaterally every 4 hours.
d) Encourage the client to deep-breathe and cough every 2 hours.
Answer: b) Administer oxygen by nasal cannula as prescribed.
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Which of the following statements about trauma is FALSE?
A) Life-threatening injuries may exist with little external evidence. B) Dramatic-appearing extremity injuries draw the paramedic's focus away from life-threatening injuries. C) Life-threatening injury occurs in less than 10 percent of trauma patients. D) Most patients with life-threatening trauma will have sustained external injury to the extremities (arms/legs).