The emergency department nurse is assessing the unconscious patient following a fall from the ladder while he was doing home improvement work. Which assessment is performed first?

Pulse oximetry. The assessment of any patient is prioritized using the ABCDE approach (Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, and Exposure). The nurse first assesses breathing by assessing the patient’s oxygen saturation via pulse oximetry. Blood pressure is utilized to assess the patient’s circulation. The next assessment is Disability, so the nurse checks the patient’s blood glucose level. Assessing temperature is the last assessment to be performed in this list to assess for exposure.

The emergency department nurse is assessing the unconscious patie...

NCLEX Practice
Categories
Management of Care
View Question

Category: Management of Care
Difficulty: 4

Topics: Delegation, Prioritization and Leadership Assessment Cardiovascular Cognition Communication & Documentation Disease Prevention Health Screening HEENT Intracranial Regulation Lifestyle Choices and High Risk Behavior Neurology Respiratory

Want help? View the answer with rationale.

Additional Management of Care Questions

The woman who is 36-weeks pregnant reports sudden and severe abdominal pain. Which assessment does the nurse perform first?

Question Type: Multiple Choice - Select One
Difficulty: 5

Which aspect of delegation is the most crucial to ensure patient safety?

Question Type: Multiple Choice - Select One
Difficulty: 4

Which patient statement is most appropriate to report to the social worker?

Question Type: Multiple Choice - Select One
Difficulty: 6

Show Calculator

Want help? View the answer with rationale.

Rationale

Additional Management of Care Questions

Nursing Careers

Nursing Degrees

NCLEX