Free BCEN Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) Practice Question

The correct answer is to administer 100% oxygen via non-rebreather mask. This is the most crucial initial step in treating carbon monoxide poisoning. High-flow oxygen therapy helps to displace carbon monoxide from hemoglobin, accelerating its elimination from the body. While other treatments may be necessary, oxygen administration is the primary and most urgent intervention.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, while effective in severe cases, is not typically the initial treatment and may not be immediately available in all settings. Acetylcysteine is used for acetaminophen overdose, not carbon monoxide poisoning. Administering sodium bicarbonate is not a standard treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning and would not address the primary issue of oxygen displacement from hemoglobin.