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Which patient finding requires the nurse to take immediate action to prevent a safety risk?
Asked on Oct 15, 2025
Answer
In nursing practice, recognizing urgent patient findings is crucial to prevent safety risks. Immediate action is often required when there are signs of compromised airway, breathing, or circulation (ABCs), or when there are unexpected changes in vital signs or consciousness.
Example Concept: A patient exhibiting signs of respiratory distress, such as labored breathing, cyanosis, or a sudden drop in oxygen saturation, requires immediate intervention to secure the airway and ensure adequate ventilation. This is because maintaining a patent airway and effective breathing is critical to patient safety and survival.
Additional Comment:
- Assess the patient's airway, breathing, and circulation (ABCs) as a priority.
- Unexpected findings like altered mental status, severe pain, or bleeding also warrant immediate attention.
- Use SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) to communicate urgent findings to the healthcare team.
- Document the findings, interventions, and patient response accurately in the medical record.
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