Question

The nurse returns to the desk and finds four phone messages to return. Which of the following messages should the nurse return FIRST?

1) A woman in the first trimester of pregnancy complains of heartburn.
2) A man complains of heartburn that radiates to the jaw.
3) A woman complains of hot flashes and difficulty sleeping.
4) A boy complains of knee pain after playing basketball.

Answer 1

The nurse should return the call to the man with heartburn that radiates to the jaw first, as this could be a symptom of a heart attack, which is a potentially life-threatening condition.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should prioritize the phone messages based on the urgency and potential severity of the conditions described. In this case, the man complaining of heartburn radiating to the jaw should be contacted first. This symptom may indicate a myocardial infarction (heart attack) rather than simple heartburn, as radiating chest pain can be a sign of angina or an acute cardiac event, particularly when it involves the jaw. Other symptoms that accompany a heart attack can include cough, nausea, shortness of breath, and a fever.

The other conditions while uncomfortable, such as the woman in the first trimester of pregnancy with heartburn, the woman with hot flashes and difficulty sleeping, and the boy with knee pain after playing basketball, are typically not as immediately life-threatening as potential cardiac issues.

It is critical when assessing the priority of callbacks to consider the risk of serious consequences, such as those that may arise from cardiac events, which makes the man's complaint of primary concern.