Free BCEN Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) Practice Question

The correct answer is to apply a protective shield over the eye without applying pressure. In cases of penetrating eye injuries, it's crucial to protect the eye from further damage while avoiding any pressure that could exacerbate the injury. A protective shield (such as a paper cup) should be placed over the eye to prevent accidental movement of the foreign body.

Administering pain medication, while important, is not the immediate priority. Removing the nail is absolutely contraindicated as it could cause severe damage and vision loss. Bandaging both eyes, while sometimes done for eye injuries to prevent sympathetic movement, is not the first step and could be disorienting for the patient in this scenario.

The primary goal is to stabilize the injury, prevent further damage, and prepare the patient for emergency ophthalmological evaluation and possible surgical intervention. After shielding the eye, other steps would include obtaining a detailed history, assessing visual acuity in the unaffected eye, and arranging for immediate ophthalmology consultation.