When an alarm is activated on a ventilator, the respiratory therapist's first priority is to ______________
a. assess the patient's level of consciousness
b. ensure adequate ventilation and oxygena-tion
c. assess lung compliance and airway re-sistance
d. ensure that bilateral and equal breath sounds are present
ANS: B
Patient safety is the foremost obligation of the respiratory therapist. Whenever an alarm activates on a ventilator, the respiratory therapist first should make sure the patient is adequately ventilated and oxygenated. To do this, the respiratory therapist can assess the patient's level of conscious-ness, use of accessory muscles, and chest wall movements; determine whether bilateral breath sounds are present; and evaluate the heart rate and SpO2.
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