When a patient is admitted to the ed following a head injury, what should be the nurse's first priority in management of the patient once a patent airway is confirmed?
In addition to monitoring for a patent airway during emergency care of the patient with a head injury, the nurse must always assume that a patient with a head injury may have a cervical spine injury. Maintaining cervical spine precautions in all assessment and treatment activities with the patient is essential to prevent additional neurologic damage.