A patient is admitted to the emergency department with an open stab wound to the left chest. the first action that the nurse should take is to tape a nonporous dressing on three sides over the chest wound.
why do we use tape on the chest wound?
Because the dressing taped on three sides will allow air to escape when intrapleural pressure increases during expiration, but it will prevent air from moving into the pleural space during inspiration. Placing the patient on the left side or covering the chest wound with an occlusive dressing will allow trapped air in the pleural space and cause tension pneumothorax. the head of the bed should be elevated to 30 to 45 degrees to facilitate breathing.
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