A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client who suddenly starts choking on a piece of food during their meal. The client is clutching their throat, unable to speak, and shows signs of cyanosis. What should the nurse do first?
Initiate chest compressions
Administer supplemental oxygen
Offer the client water to help push the obstruction down
Alternate back blows with abdominal thrusts until the obstruction is dislodged
The correct action is to perform a combination of abdominal thrusts and back blows as these are the recommended emergency interventions for a choking adult with a complete airway obstruction. Emergency protocols advise alternating five back blows with five abdominal thrusts to increase the chance of dislodging the obstruction. Simply administering oxygen is not appropriate, as the airway must be cleared before oxygen can be effective. Offering water is dangerous for someone with a blocked airway, as they cannot safely swallow. Initiating chest compressions is only appropriate if the client becomes unresponsive, which is not described in this scenario.
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