Taking your test on the national registry, when you are doing the trauma exam, and you find reduced breath sounds on one side with unequal chest rise on the effected side with resp distress, you would immediately innitiate a needle chest decompression right? This is in light of trauma (holes on the chest, back, etc) which you have already initiated an occlusive dressing. You haven't taken vitals yet in the part of the exam, so you don't have the required low pulse ox and hypotention. It goes by the "find it fix it" theory right? To wait to address this till you get your vitals could mean the deterioration or death of your pt. I'm referring to being assessed for the national registry in NJ. Any information would be appreciated, and the reasoning behind it. Thanks
National Registry trauma assessment question
- Thread starter Byekryam
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teedubbyaw
Forum Deputy Chief
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From what I was just told this week by instructors who talked to NR, NR does not want needle decompression done until you have late signs (tracheal deviation, JVD). Of course, in the real world, that's ridiculous. Whether you actually get marked off for doing it is probably instructor dependent.
Just as the proctor, "I found signs of a pneumo (or hemo), does this appear to be causing life threatening bleeding or respiratory distress at the moment?" They will take this as a "fix it now or fix it later question" and most will be very happy to push you towards (very life threatening) or (not life threatening currently).
That is actually a really good idea, I've never thought about that approach. Thanks for the tip!
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Moved to the NREMT section.