The nurse begins a shift on a busy medical-surgical unit. The nurse will be caring for multiple patients. Which patient will the nurse assess first?
a. A patient who would like some acetaminophen (Tylenol) for a mild headache
b. A patient who has a question about her daily medications
c. A patient who needs discharge teaching about an antibiotic
d. A patient who just received nitroglycerin for chest pain
ANS: D
The nurse's first priority is always: ABCs- Airway, Breathing, and Circulation. This includes any patients who are having chest pain and/or difficulty breathing. The nurse needs to see this patient first to determine if the chest pain has been relieved or not. An assessment should be done right away to determine if the patient is now stable or if additional interventions need to be done. The other patients' needs are less critical and can be met after this patient is assessed.
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