GMCH Chandigarh - 2019
Medical & Surgical Nursing
Easy
Where should you place the AED pads on an adult victim?
Appeared in: GMCH Chandigarh - 2019
Explanation
- The correct answer describes the standard anterolateral placement for AED pads on an adult.
- One pad is placed on the upper-right chest, just below the clavicle (collarbone).
- The second pad is placed on the victim's lower-left side, a few inches below the armpit (mid-axillary line).
- This positioning is crucial because it ensures the electrical current pathway goes directly through the heart's ventricles.
- Effective defibrillation depends on this pathway to stop chaotic electrical activity (like Ventricular Fibrillation) and allow a normal rhythm to resume.
Why Other Options Were Wrong
- Option B: This option describes a reversed version of the correct anterolateral placement. Placing the pads on the upper-left and lower-right sides is not the standard protocol taught by the American Heart Association (AHA) and other resuscitation councils.
- Option C: Placing a pad under each armpit would cause the electrical current to travel across the upper chest, likely bypassing the heart muscle. This would render the defibrillation shock ineffective.
- Option D: This describes the anteroposterior (AP) placement. While it is a valid method, it is considered an alternative, not the primary standard for adults. The anterolateral placement is preferred and taught as the default method.
Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
- Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Proper placement of Automated External Defibrillator (AED) pads on an adult victim as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
- Correct AED pad placement is a critical skill for any healthcare provider, as it directly impacts the effectiveness of defibrillation and the patient's chance of survival from sudden cardiac arrest.
- Nurses must ensure safety during defibrillation by clearing the area, announcing 'Clear!' before the shock, and ensuring no one is touching the patient or the bed.
- Special considerations are vital for patient safety. Nurses must quickly assess for and manage factors like a wet chest, excessive hair, medication patches, and implanted devices to ensure the AED functions correctly and safely.
How to Approach the Question
- First, identify the core of the question: it's asking for the standard AED pad placement on an adult.
- Recall or visualize the standard anterolateral procedure for adults as taught in Basic Life Support (BLS) courses.
- The standard placement involves positioning one pad on the upper-right chest and the other on the lower-left side of the torso.
- Evaluate each option against this standard. Option A correctly describes this placement.
- Analyze the incorrect options to confirm your choice. Option B is reversed. Option C would bypass the heart. Option D describes the anteroposterior placement, which is a correct alternative but not the primary standard for adults.
Concept Tested & Keywords
- Concept Tested: Proper placement of Automated External Defibrillator (AED) pads on an adult victim.
- Stem keywords: AED pads, adult victim, place
- Lead-in keywords: Where should you place
- Clinical cues: The question specifies an 'adult victim', which indicates the use of standard adult pad placement procedures.
- Negative lead-in flag: false
Question ID
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Reference Book
E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 5 p. 7-9
E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 2 p. 240-242
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