Question

A patient is treated in the emergency department (ED) for shock of unknown etiology. The first action by the nurse should be to:

a. check the blood pressure.
b. obtain an oxygen saturation.
c. attach a cardiac monitor.
d. check level of consciousness.

Answer 1

The initial step in treating a patient for shock in the ED should be to check their level of consciousness option (d) to swiftly assess any immediate neurological threats that necessitate urgent interventions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The first action by a nurse when treating a patient in the emergency department (ED) for shock of unknown etiology should be to check the level of consciousness option (d). This initial assessment provides critical information about the patient's neurological status and helps determine the need for immediate interventions. Although obtaining a blood pressure, attaching a cardiac monitor, and checking oxygen saturation are also important steps, assessing consciousness should come first as it can quickly reveal severe dysfunction within the central nervous system that requires urgent attention.