A nurse on the medical surgical floor enters a patient's room and finds the patient unresponsive to verbal stimuli. What should the nurse do next?

Explanation

•If a nurse finds an unresponsive patient, the first action should be to feel for a carotid pulse for 5 to 10 seconds.

•If no pulse can be felt, the nurse should activate the emergency response system and begin CPR with chest compressions.

•Once the AED arrives, the pads should be placed on the appropriate position on the patient's chest wall.

•Then the AED should have the power turned "ON."

•The AED will then automatically begin analyzing the patient's heart rhythm.

•After this is done, the AED will advise if a shock should be delivered.

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