Question

A 72-year-old male patient comes to the health clinic for an annual follow-up. The nurse enters the patient's room and notices him to be diaphoretic, holding his chest and breathing with difficulty. The nurse immediately checks the patient's heart rate and blood pres- sure and asks him, "Tell me where your pain is." Which of the following assessment approaches does this scenario describe?

1. Review of systems approach
2. Use of a structured database format 3. Back channeling
4. A problem-oriented approach

Answer 1

The nurse's actions in the given scenario represent a problem-oriented approach to patient assessment, setting priorities based on the patient's immediate health concerns.

Step-by-step explanation:

The scenario described in the question is a problem-oriented approach. This assessment strategy is used when a nurse or healthcare provider quickly focuses on a specific problem that the patient is experiencing, such as the chest pain, diaphoresis, and difficulty breathing noted in the patient. The nurse's immediate actions of checking the patient's heart rate and blood pressure, along with asking the patient to describe the pain, are consistent with a triage method that aims to prioritize and promptly address acute medical issues.