Free BCEN Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) Practice Question

A 72-year-old male patient with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) presents to the emergency department with sudden onset of shortness of breath and chest pain on the right side. On examination, you note diminished breath sounds on the right and the trachea is deviated towards the left. The patient is tachycardic and increasingly anxious. Which of the following is the most appropriate immediate management?

  • Administration of high-flow oxygen and reassessment in 15 minutes

  • Immediate needle decompression followed by chest tube thoracostomy

  • Urgent consultation with a pulmonologist

  • Calling for a portable chest x-ray

This question's topic:
BCEN Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) / 
Respiratory Emergencies
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