Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP) Practice Test 2025 – Comprehensive All-in-One Guide to Exam Success

The recommended action for foreign body airway obstruction in infants is to administer back blows and chest thrusts. This technique is specifically designed for infants, who are not capable of effectively using traditional methods like the Heimlich maneuver or encouraging coughing due to their age and size.

Back blows, delivered between the infant's shoulder blades, can help dislodge an obstruction, while chest thrusts, applied just below the nipple line, provide a forceful push to expel the foreign body. This combination is effective in clearing the airway and preventing respiratory distress or failure.

Methods such as using a suction device or encouraging coughing are not suitable in this scenario as they may not provide immediate relief or could result in additional complications. The Heimlich maneuver is not recommended for infants because of their delicate anatomy. Thus, back blows and chest thrusts serve as the safest and most effective approach for this age group facing airway obstruction.