A triage nurse in a busy emergency department (ED) assesses a patient who complains of 7/10 abdominal pain and states, "I had a temperature of 103.9° F (39.9° C) at home." The nurse's first action should be to
a. assess the patient's current vital signs.
b. give acetaminophen (Tylenol) per agency protocol.
c. ask the patient to provide a clean-catch urine for urinalysis.
d. tell the patient that it will 1 to 2 hours before being seen by the doctor.
ANS: A
The patient's pain and statement about an elevated temperature indicate that the nurse should obtain vital signs before deciding how rapidly the patient should be seen by the health care provider. A urinalysis may be appropriate, but this would be done after the vital signs are taken. The nurse will not give acetaminophen before confirming a current temperature elevation.
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