The nurse witnesses an accident whereby a pedestrian is hit by an automobile. the nurse stops at the scene and assesses the victim. the nurse notes that the victim is responsive and has suffered trauma to the thorax resulting in a flail chest involving at least three ribs. what is the nurse's priority action for this victim

The nurse's priority in this situation is to apply a firm pressure that is tolerable and not that hard to the flail segment, in order to prevent further damage as they wait for the EMS to arrive. It is because it is best to do this procedure for moving the patient with this kind of scenario could cause the patient to have a more serious complication when moved. It is best to do this as you wait for the EMS has the supplies needed for this type of situation.