A 40 year old obese patient with GCS of 8 requires a CT scan. Before transfer to the scanner, you should:

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Insert a definitive airway. In a patient with a GCS of 8, airway management is a priority. Inserting a definitive airway ensures proper oxygenation and ventilation during the CT scan, reducing the risk of hypoxia or respiratory compromise. This step takes precedence over giving more sedative drugs (A), as ensuring adequate oxygenation is critical in a patient with altered mental status. Inserting a multilumen esophageal airway (C) is not indicated in this scenario, as it is primarily used for airway management during surgery. Requesting a lateral cervical spine film (D) is not necessary before a CT scan in this case, as securing the airway takes precedence over ruling out cervical spine injury.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because the chain of command refers to the hierarchical structure within an organization that outlines the line of authority and communication. This ensures that decisions and information flow efficiently from top management to frontline employees. Option A is incorrect as it describes legal responsibility. Option B is incorrect as it refers to a shift supervisor, not the entire chain of command. Option D is incorrect as it describes a specific department, not the overall structure of authority. Ultimately, understanding the chain of command is crucial for effective communication and decision-making within an organization.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Protect privacy of health information. HIPAA was enacted to safeguard individuals' sensitive health information, ensuring confidentiality and security. This is crucial in maintaining trust between patients and healthcare providers. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect as they do not directly relate to the primary purpose of HIPAA, which is to regulate the use and disclosure of protected health information. Nursing assistants' insurance coverage, care procedures, and abuse prevention are important but not the main focus of HIPAA.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Taste. Taste is not typically used in making observations because observations rely on external stimuli that can be seen, touched, or smelled. Taste involves consuming food or drink, which is not a common method of observation. Sight (A), touch (B), and smell (C) are commonly used senses in making observations. Each of these senses provides valuable information about the external world, making them essential for observation. Taste, on the other hand, is more subjective and personal, making it less reliable and applicable for objective observations.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Hear. Even though a person in a coma is unconscious and unresponsive, their auditory pathways are still active, allowing them to process sound stimuli. This is supported by research showing brain activity in response to familiar voices and sounds in comatose patients. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because speaking, seeing, and walking require conscious awareness and motor functions, which are typically impaired or absent in individuals in a coma. Therefore, the ability to hear is the most likely sensory function to remain intact in a comatose state.