A conscious and alert 44-year-old female complains of chest pain and mild shortness of breath. She appears to have no difficulty speaking and states that the pain suddenly started about 2 hours ago. There is a history of blood clots in the lungs in her family, and she is scared and would like to be evaluated. Which of the following should you do first?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The first priority should always be to assess and stabilize the patient's ABCs (airway, breathing, circulation). In this case, determining the adequacy of her breathing is the most important first step, as chest pain and shortness of breath could indicate a serious respiratory issue. Oxygen administration could be considered after this assessment. Placing her on the stretcher and performing a secondary assessment can come after her ABCs have been assessed and stabilized.

A Conscious and Alert 44-Year-Old Female Complains of Chest Pain