Question

The nurse is caring for a client who meets the criteria for the emergency severity index level 2 (ESI-2). How soon should the client be seen by the physician?

A) Within 30 minutes
B) Within 15 minutes
C) Within 1 hour
D) Within 2 hours

Answer 1

A client classified as Emergency Severity Index level 2 (ESI-2) is a high-risk patient who should not wait and must be seen by a physician within 15 minutes to address potentially life-threatening conditions or prevent deterioration.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse is caring for a client who meets the criteria for the Emergency Severity Index level 2 (ESI-2). According to the Emergency Severity Index (ESI), a five-level emergency department triage algorithm, a client at ESI-2 level is considered a high-risk situation, or one in which the patient should not wait to be seen by a physician. Patients classified as ESI-2 require immediate life-saving intervention or are at high risk for deterioration and therefore should be seen by a physician very quickly. The correct answer is B) Within 15 minutes.