Question

Four clients enter the emergency department at the same time. Which client should the nurse alert the health care provider to see first?

a) A client with a fever and productive cough
b) A client with chest pain and shortness of breath
c) A client with a laceration on the forearm
d) A client with abdominal pain and vomiting

Answer 1

The nurse should alert the health care provider to see the client with chest pain and shortness of breath first.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should alert the health care provider to see the client with chest pain and shortness of breath first. Chest pain and shortness of breath can be indicative of a serious condition such as a heart attack or pulmonary embolism. These conditions require immediate medical attention to prevent further complications or even death. The other clients' conditions, such as fever and cough, laceration on the forearm, and abdominal pain and vomiting, while still important, are not as urgent as the symptoms of chest pain and shortness of breath.