Question

Which patient arriving at the urgent care center will the nurse assess first?

a. Patient with acute right eye pain that occurred while using home power tools
b. Patient with purulent left eye discharge, pruritus, and conjunctival inflammation
c. Patient who is complaining of intense discomfort after an insect crawled into the right ear
d. Patient who has Ménière's disease and is complaining of nausea, vomiting, and dizziness

Answer 1

The patient with acute right eye pain from using power tools should be assessed first due to the potential for serious eye injury and urgent need for intervention to preserve vision.

Therefore, option A is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse in an urgent care center prioritizes patient assessments based on the severity and potential for immediate life-threatening conditions. In the scenario provided, the patient with acute right eye pain that occurred while using home power tools (option a) should be assessed first. This is due to the potential for a serious eye injury or penetrating trauma that could result in rapid deterioration of vision or further ocular damage. Immediate assessment and intervention are critical in preserving visual function and preventing complications.

Patients with symptoms such as purulent eye discharge, pruritus, and conjunctival inflammation (option b), discomfort from an insect in the ear (option c), or symptoms of Ménière's disease (option d) also require attention, but these conditions are typically less urgent compared to a potential ocular trauma with immediate vision-threat.