A triage nurse in the emergency department is responsible for deciding who is seen first-the most unstable patient versus the patient who is merely uncomfortable.Which of the following patients should be seen first by the emergency physicians?
A)Patient scheduled to arrive by helicopter in acute chest pain with normal troponin levels at the originating hospital
B)Patient dropped off by "friends" following a night of alcohol and drug use
C)Patient who drove himself to the emergency department following a stab wound to the abdomen
D)Patient who arrives with gastrointestinal bleeding whose blood pressure is 85/40 mm Hg and heart rate is 120 beats/min.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient with gastrointestinal bleeding and hemodynamic instability (low blood pressure and high heart rate) is the most unstable and should be seen first. The other patients may have serious medical problems but they are not as urgent as the patient with active bleeding and signs of shock.

A Triage Nurse in the Emergency Department Is Responsible for Deciding