The nurse should place an unconscious patient in which position to maintain airway?

A Supine with head elevated

B Lateral (recovery) position to prevent aspiration

C Prone

D Sitting upright

✓ Correct Answer: Option B

Recovery (lateral) position: unconscious breathing patient turned on side. Prevents tongue from obstructing airway and allows secretions/vomitus to drain. If spinal injury suspected, use log-roll.

💡 Why is B) the correct answer?

The correct answer to the question "The nurse should place an unconscious patient in which position to maintain airway?" is Option B: Lateral (recovery) position to prevent aspiration.

The other options — A) Supine with head elevated, C) Prone, D) Sitting upright — are incorrect for this NCLEX-RN Exam Prep question. As explained above: Recovery (lateral) position: unconscious breathing patient turned on side. Prevents tongue from obstructing airway and allows secretions/vomitus to drain. If spinal injury suspected, use log-roll.

📚 About This NCLEX-RN Exam Prep Practice Question

This 2-level NCLEX-RN Exam Prep question from the Physiological Integrity topic is part of BrainForge Quiz's free exam preparation library. Each question includes the correct answer and a detailed explanation to help you understand the underlying concept, not just memorize the answer.

How to use this page: Read the question above, consider all four options (A through D), then check the highlighted correct answer and explanation. For active timed practice, start a free NCLEX-RN Exam Prep practice test or use flashcards for spaced repetition review.

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The nurse should place an unconscious patient in which position to maintain airway?

✓ Correct Answer: Option B

📚 About This NCLEX-RN Exam Prep Practice Question

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