For a child who has jumped from a burning building and sustained a fracture, what should the nurse assess first?

In a situation where a child has jumped from a burning building, the priority is to assess the respiratory status. This is particularly critical given the potential for airway compromise or respiratory distress from smoke inhalation, trauma, or the stress of jumping. In emergency care, the ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) guide clinical assessments and interventions. Evaluating the respiratory status first allows the nurse to quickly identify any life-threatening issues that may require immediate intervention, such as administering oxygen or performing resuscitation if necessary.

While assessing the extent of the fracture, level of consciousness, and presence of external bleeding are also important, they are secondary to ensuring that the airway is clear and the child is breathing adequately. If the respiratory system is compromised, addressing other concerns may be less effective or even futile, reinforcing why respiratory status takes precedence in this urgent scenario.