First-aid is the care given to a sick or injured person at?

RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2021

Nursing Foundation

Easy

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2021

Explanation

First aid is defined as the initial, immediate assistance provided to someone suffering from a sudden illness or injury.
This care is temporary in nature, serving as a critical intervention until professional medical help arrives or the person recovers.
The primary goals are to preserve life, prevent the condition from deteriorating, and promote recovery.
The other options describe actions (delay, neglect) that are the opposite of first aid and can lead to harm.

Option B: This is incorrect because the core principle of first aid is immediacy. Delaying care can lead to worse outcomes, increased complications, and potentially death.
Option C: This is incorrect and unethical. Neglecting a patient violates the fundamental duty of care and can lead to preventable harm or death.
Option D: This is incorrect for the same reasons as neglect. Withholding care is dangerous and goes against all principles of first aid and medical ethics.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Definition and Principles of First Aid helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses are often the first responders in both community and hospital settings. Knowing first aid is a fundamental skill for managing emergencies like cardiac arrest, choking, or trauma before a full medical team assembles.
In India, with a high burden of road traffic accidents, bystander first aid, including by off-duty nurses, can significantly improve survival rates by providing critical care during the 'golden hour'.
What if? If the patient is a child, the first aid principles (like CPR ratios) change. For an infant, the compression-to-breath ratio for a single rescuer is 30:2, but for two rescuers, it becomes 15:2. The force of compressions and the head-tilt technique are also modified.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question that tests the fundamental definition of a key medical concept.
First, identify the core term in the question stem, which is 'First-aid'.
Next, analyze the question's intent: it asks for the nature and timing of this care.
Evaluate each option against the standard definition of first aid. The term 'first' itself implies immediacy.
Option A, 'Immediate and temporary care', directly aligns with the definition of providing initial help until more advanced care is available.
Options B, C, and D describe actions (delay, neglect, no care) that are contrary to the purpose of first aid, making them easy to eliminate.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Textbook of Nursing Management and Leadership I. Clemen — Subpart A (pp 26-327 of 982) p. 184-186

E6 Nursing Brunner Adult Health 3SA Vol 2 Part 3 p. 113-115