In addition to being unconscious, what other condition is necessary for a patient to be placed in the recovery position?

The recovery position is a specific way to position an unconscious person who is breathing adequately and does not have any spinal injuries. This position helps maintain an open airway and allows any fluids to drain from the mouth, reducing the risk of aspiration. For a patient to be safely placed in the recovery position, it is crucial that they are still breathing adequately. If a patient is not breathing or is only gasping, they would require immediate medical intervention rather than being placed in this position.

In this context, the other options do not describe necessary conditions for the recovery position. Being without a pulse indicates cardiac arrest, which necessitates CPR rather than positioning. Similarly, while the presence of broken bones may require careful handling, it does not preclude someone from being placed in the recovery position as long as they are breathing adequately. The presence of pain does not factor into the requirements for positioning the patient effectively. Therefore, the correct answer focuses on the necessity of adequate breathing before employing the recovery position.