Question

The nurse is assigned to care for several patients on a medical unit. Which patient should the nurse check on first?

A. A 60-yr-old patient with a blood pressure of 92/64 mm Hg and hemoglobin of 9.8 g/dL
B. A 50-yr-old patient with a respiratory rate of 26 breaths/minute and an elevated D-dimer
C. A 40-yr-old patient with a temperature of 100.8oF (38.2oC) and a neutrophil count of 256/μL
D. A 30-yr-old patient with a pulse of 112 beats/min and a white blood cell count of 14,000/μL

Answer 1

The nurse should check on the 50-year-old patient with a respiratory rate of 26 breaths/minute and an elevated D-dimer first, as this patient's symptoms may indicate a pulmonary embolism, which can be life-threatening and thus requires immediate attention.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse is assigned to care for several patients on a medical unit. Which patient should the nurse check on first? Among the patients listed, priority should be given to the patient whose clinical presentation indicates the most urgent need for intervention.

The patient with the respiratory rate of 26 breaths/minute and an elevated D-dimer (patient B) may be experiencing a pulmonary embolism or other serious conditions, and therefore warrants immediate evaluation. While the other patients also present with concerning symptoms, the combination of respiratory distress and potential for a clotting disorder in patient B could quickly become life-threatening.

Additionally, other parameters such as a patient with low blood pressure and hemoglobin (patient A) and a patient with fever and low neutrophil count (patient C) should be assessed as soon as possible, but the potential immediate risk to life with patient B makes them the priority.

Therefore, the correct answer is: The nurse should check on the 50-yr-old patient with a respiratory rate of 26 breaths/minute and an elevated D-dimer first.