Final answer:
The cognitive thinking level involved in prioritizing nursing actions is higher-level critical thinking.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cognitive thinking level involved in prioritizing nursing actions for a patient experiencing shortness of breath and chest pain on an examination is higher-level critical thinking.
Higher-level critical thinking requires students to apply what they have learned in different contexts and demonstrate their understanding by reasoning about the concepts.
In this case, the student is expected to analyze the situation, consider the possible nursing actions, and prioritize them based on the patient's condition and the urgency of each action.