Question

What is the first action of the nurse when starting care for the patient at the beginning of the shift?

a. Administer prescribed medications
b. Conduct the patient's health history
c. Perform a focused patient assessment
d. Create the nursing care plan for the patient

Answer 1

The first action a nurse should take at the beginning of a shift is to perform a focused patient assessment, which is critical for providing safe and personalized care.

Step-by-step explanation:

The first action of a nurse when starting care for a patient at the beginning of the shift should be to perform a focused patient assessment. This involves reviewing the patient's health history, assessing their current condition, and responding to any immediate needs. Essential to ensuring safe and effective care, this assessment includes taking and reporting the patient's vital signs. Only after a thorough assessment can a nurse administer medications, create a care plan, or deliver treatments, such as dialysis, with confidence that they are acting on the most up-to-date information about the patient's health status.