Question

An emergency room nurse will give first priority to the patient with the most critical need, which is the patient who:

a. is bleeding from a chin laceration
b. complains of a productive cough
c. has a fever of 102* F
d. complains of severe chest pain

Answer 1

The patient with severe chest pain should be given the highest priority in an emergency room setting, as it may indicate a life-threatening condition like a heart attack.

Step-by-step explanation:

In triage situations, an emergency room nurse will give first priority to the patient with the most critical need. Comparing the listed scenarios, the patient who complains of severe chest pain would be given the highest priority as they may be experiencing a life-threatening condition such as a myocardial infarction (heart attack). This assessment is based on the potential for immediate life-threatening consequences. While other conditions such as a fever, productive cough, and bleeding from a minor injury are concerning, they do not typically signify immediate critical threats to life on the same scale as severe chest pain.