Question

A nurse working in an emergency department is triaging four clients. Which of the following clients should the nurse recommend for treatment first?

A) An older adult client who reports constipation of 4 days.
B) A preschooler who has a skin rash.
C) An adolescent who has a closed fracture.
D) A middle adult client who has unstable vital signs.

Answer 1

The nurse should recommend treating the middle adult client with unstable vital signs first.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should recommend treating the middle adult client with unstable vital signs first.

Unstable vital signs indicate a medical emergency. Vital signs include temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate. If a client's vital signs are unstable, it means that their body is not functioning properly and requires immediate medical attention.

In this scenario, although the other clients may also require treatment, the client with unstable vital signs should be prioritized because their condition is likely to deteriorate rapidly without intervention.