Free BCEN Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) Practice Question

The correct answer is to perform the Heimlich maneuver. In this scenario, the patient's symptoms strongly suggest a complete airway obstruction. The high-pitched noise (stridor) and inability to speak indicate that the airway is severely compromised. The Heimlich maneuver is the first-line intervention for conscious adults with complete airway obstruction due to a foreign body. It aims to create an artificial cough by applying quick, upward thrusts to the upper abdomen, potentially dislodging the obstruction.

Administering oxygen, while important in many respiratory emergencies, would not be effective in this case as the obstruction prevents air from entering the lungs. Initiating CPR is not appropriate for a conscious patient. Preparing for intubation, while potentially necessary if the obstruction cannot be cleared, is not the first step and would waste valuable time in this emergency situation where immediate action is crucial.