Answer: Emily went to the ED, which is an abbreviation for Emergency Department, also known as an ER/Emergency Room. When the nurse took her pulse, checked her respirations/breathing rate, and blood pressure it is called taking her vital signs. Vital signs are very important to take at the beginning of treatment, this helps to triage a patient in the ED. This also helps to know if the patient is in distress of any of the vitals show an abnormal reading.