A 16-year-old patient is unresponsive after a motor vehicle collision. The parents speak another language. While performing the secondary survey, what should the nurse do next?
A.
Request a translator from the patient services department
B.
Ask if either of the parents speak English
C.
Ask a colleague who is bilingual to question the parents
In a trauma situation, theprimary and secondary surveys take precedenceto assess life-threatening injuries and prioritize interventions. While a certified interpreter should be used for communicationas soon as possible, thenurse should not delay the physical assessmentduring a critical time.
“The priority in trauma is completion of the primary and secondary assessments. While interpreter use is standard, care must not be delayed in critical evaluations.”
(Referenced from CCRN Pediatric – Professional Caring and Ethical Practice: Cultural Competence and Emergency Protocols)
Contribute your Thoughts:
Chosen Answer:
This is a voting comment (?). You can switch to a simple comment. It is better to Upvote an existing comment if you don't have anything to add.
Submit