A client comes into the emergency room (er) after hitting his head while playing basketball. he is alert and oriented. which is a priority nursing intervention? assess full range of motion (rom) to determine extent of injuries. call for an immediate head computed tomography (ct). immobilize the client's head and neck. open the airway with the head-tilt chin-lift maneuver.

When a client comes into the emergency room (er) after hitting his head while playing any sport, if he is alert and oriented. immobilize the client's head and neck would be a priority nursing intervention, because a head injury is treated as if a cervical spine injury is present until x-rays confirm their absence, then call for an immediate head computed tomography to look for any spine or head injury.