A nurse is assessing a patient who has suffered a nasal fracture. Which assessment would the nurse perform first?

Choice A reason: Assessing vital signs is important to evaluate overall stability, but a nasal fracture can compromise the airway due to swelling or bleeding. Ensuring airway patency takes precedence, as hypoxia is a more immediate threat than systemic changes detected through vital signs, which are secondary in trauma. Choice B reason: Airway patency is the priority in nasal fracture assessment, as swelling, hematoma, or blood clots can obstruct the nasal passages, impairing breathing. Ensuring a clear airway prevents hypoxia, a life-threatening complication, making this the first assessment to address immediate respiratory risks in facial trauma. Choice C reason: Facial pain assessment is relevant in nasal fractures, as pain indicates tissue damage. However, pain is not life-threatening, unlike airway obstruction. Prioritizing airway patency ensures oxygenation before addressing pain, which can be managed after confirming the patient’s respiratory status is stable. Choice D reason: Assessing bone displacement helps determine fracture severity but is not the priority. Nasal fractures can cause airway obstruction through swelling or bleeding, which poses an immediate threat to oxygenation. Bone alignment assessment follows airway and breathing stabilization to ensure patient safety.