A client arrives to the emergency department (ED) following a motor vehicle collision. The nurse observes the client experiencing increasing dyspnea and notes absent breath sounds on the left side. Which procedure should the nurse prepare the client for?

Rationale: A. Bronchoscopy: Bronchoscopy is used to visualize the airways or remove obstructions, but it does not immediately resolve absent breath sounds caused by pneumothorax or hemothorax. It is not the first-line emergency intervention in this scenario. B. Pulmonary function test: Pulmonary function tests evaluate lung capacity and airflow but are not used in acute trauma or life-threatening respiratory compromise. They are inappropriate for emergency management of absent breath sounds. C. Chest tube insertion: Absent breath sounds on one side after trauma suggest a pneumothorax or hemothorax. Chest tube insertion evacuates air or fluid from the pleural space, re-expands the lung, and restores effective ventilation, making it the priority intervention. D. Endotracheal intubation: Intubation may be necessary if the client cannot maintain oxygenation or ventilation. While supportive, it does not address the underlying cause of absent breath sounds, which requires chest tube placement to relieve the pneumothorax or hemothorax.