A combat veteran patient with a history of severe PTSD states that he has a headache that feels worse than any other he has ever had. The patient is alert and oriented with no threats to the airway, breathing, or circulation. His vital signs are: pulse 68, respirations 16, blood pressure 168/100 mmHg, and SpO₂ 95% on room air. You next action is to:

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The patient's headache is severe and seems to be worse than any other headache he has ever had, which warrants a neurological assessment to rule out any potential serious underlying conditions like bleeding or intracranial pressure. While recognizing the component of anguish and treating for PTSD is important for the patient's overall care, assessing for any potential medical emergencies is crucial in this scenario. Administering low-concentration oxygen is not necessary at this time as the patient's SpO₂ is already at 95%.

A Combat Veteran Patient with a History of Severe PTSD