Question

during assessment of a patient with an altered mental status, which treatment or assessment must be your highest priority?

administrating of instant glucose.
maintaining an open, patent airway.
assessing for any traumatic injuries.
contacting medical control authority.

Explanation:

Identify the clinical priority

In emergency medical care, patient assessment and management always follow the standard Patient Assessment Protocols of airway, breathing, and circulation (ABCs). A patient with an altered mental status is at high risk for losing their protective airway reflexes, which can lead to airway obstruction or aspiration.

Evaluate the options

• Administrating of instant glucose: While hypoglycemia is a common cause of altered mental status, administering oral glucose is contraindicated if the patient cannot swallow or maintain their own airway. Airway management must be established first.
• Maintaining an open, patent airway: This aligns directly with the primary ABC priority. Ensuring a patent airway is always the highest priority for any patient with an altered mental status, as they may not be able to protect their own airway.
• Assessing for any traumatic injuries: This is part of the secondary assessment or rapid trauma survey, which occurs after addressing immediate life threats (ABCs).
• Contacting medical control authority: This is done later in the call, after initial assessment, stabilization, and life-saving interventions have been initiated.

Apply mastered concepts

Using the Altered Mental Status Management and Airway Protection in Stroke knowledge points, we recognize that any patient with a compromised level of consciousness requires immediate evaluation and securing of the airway to prevent hypoxia and aspiration before secondary assessments or specific treatments (like glucose administration) are performed.

Answer:

• Administrating of instant glucose.
• Maintaining an open, patent airway. (Correct answer)
• Assessing for any traumatic injuries.
• Contacting medical control authority.