Free BCEN Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) Practice Question

Immobilization of the spine is the most important initial step when a spinal cord injury is suspected. This helps to prevent further injury to the spinal cord and surrounding structures which could exacerbate the damage or lead to new injuries. Assessment for other injuries, while important, does not take precedence over spinal immobilization, which prevents secondary damage. Administration of high-dose methylprednisolone used to be common practice but has fallen out of favor due to lack of efficacy and potential for harm as per recent guidelines.