Level: Advanced
Difficulty: Hard
Subtopic: Delegation rules
NCLEX: A 39-year-old client in the emergency department is being evaluated for a busy medical-surgical assignment. Asses…
Ethics, legal nursing, delegation, prioritization Management of Care
Case Study
A 39-year-old client in the emergency department is being evaluated for a busy medical-surgical assignment. Assessment data include telephone order received for a high-risk IV medication. Using ABCs and Maslow, which need should the nurse address first?
Question
A. Airway, breathing, and circulation problems before comfort or psychosocial needs.
B. Pain relief before checking airway and breathing.
C. Visitor concerns before physiologic stability.
D. Long-term teaching before treating acute physiologic risk.
B. Pain relief before checking airway and breathing.
C. Visitor concerns before physiologic stability.
D. Long-term teaching before treating acute physiologic risk.
Rationale
Correct answer: A. Airway, breathing, and circulation problems before comfort or psychosocial needs.
Rationale: Physiologic stability and ABCs take priority over comfort, teaching, or psychosocial needs when the client is unstable.
Hint: Apply ABCs, client stability, and NCSBN clinical judgment steps before choosing an intervention.
Rationale: Physiologic stability and ABCs take priority over comfort, teaching, or psychosocial needs when the client is unstable.
Hint: Apply ABCs, client stability, and NCSBN clinical judgment steps before choosing an intervention.