A patient walked into an emergency department (ED)and then collapsed before checking in.The priority action by the nurse is to:

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Walking into an ED implies consent to treatment; since the patient walked in and then collapsed, it is safe to treat the patient under implied consent, which looks to the patient's action for consent.The priority is caring for the patient.As this is being done, someone else can check the patient's wallet for identification and contact information, but the priority is the patient.If the patient wakes up, or "comes to," then the nurse should obtain consent.However, in this situation, patient care comes first, and the nurse should care for the patient immediately.While the patient is being cared for, someone else can look for family or friends nearby, but the priority is caring for the patient.

A Patient Walked into an Emergency Department (ED)and Then Collapsed