Title: Responding to trauma: Your priorities in the first hour | Article | NursingCenter
Headings: Responding to trauma: Your priorities in the first hour
Responding to trauma: Your priorities in the first hour
Source:
Nursing2020 Critical Care
Authors
Article Content
Getting ready for your patient
Primary survey: Managing immediate threats
Secondary survey: Uncovering other serious threats
Next up: An eye on diagnostics
Providing definitive care
Meeting the standard of care
Adequate resuscitation? Watch for these indicators
SELECTED REFERENCES

Content: Ensure ready access to personal protective equipment to prevent delays in patient care. Trauma care always begins with the primary survey, a rapid assessment of the patient's ABCs-airway, breathing, and circulation-with the addition of D (disability) and E (exposure). The primary survey focuses on what can kill the patient now. It's followed by the secondary survey, a complete head-to-toe assessment to identify other serious injuries that could kill or disable the patient later. Resuscitation occurs simultaneously with the primary survey. As life-threatening injuries are discovered, the team intervenes to optimize oxygenation, ventilation, and perfusion. Interventions include clearing the airway, providing supplemental oxygen, ventilating the patient, controlling hemorrhage, inserting venous access devices and chest tubes, and replacing fluids and blood. Diagnostic studies follow the primary and secondary surveys, although blood is usually drawn when I.V. catheters are placed during the primary survey. Test results further define the nature and severity of the injuries and help guide the treatment plan. Now let's take a closer look at how assessment and interventions mesh during the crucial first hour after an injury.