Use this free practice quiz with 20 questions to review 3 Prioritization and Risk Recognition, test your knowledge, and prepare for your next test or exam.
Three patients need attention: one is suddenly short of breath and confused with falling oxygen saturation; another has long-standing knee pain with unchanged vital signs and mobility; a third is alert and stable but requests help getting to the bathroom. Who should be assessed first?
Patient A, who is suddenly short of breath and confused with falling oxygen saturation
Patient B, who has long-standing knee pain but unchanged vital signs and mobility
Patient C, who is alert and stable and requests help getting to the bathroom
True or false: A patient who asks for help most often should automatically receive attention before a patient with a new, worsening problem.
True
False
When evaluating a patient's measurements and condition, compare them with the patient's and recent trend.
Which findings should be treated as immediate threats when deciding who needs attention first? Select all that apply.
A threatened airway
Severe breathing difficulty
Signs of shock or major bleeding
Sudden loss of responsiveness
New neurologic changes
A stable, expected chronic concern
What type of system is intended to bring immediate assessment and treatment to a patient showing signs of deterioration?
True or false: Rapid-response criteria are identical across organizations, so staff should use the same trigger values everywhere.
True
False
A patient develops sudden facial droop and difficulty speaking, but the symptoms begin to improve. What is the best response?
Finish routine care first, then report the change if it returns.
Activate the facility's stroke or emergency response promptly, even if the symptoms improve.
Wait for a scheduled assessment because the symptoms may resolve.
If the exact onset time of a sudden neurologic change is unknown, what time-related detail should be noted for the response team?
A patient being treated for an infection becomes newly confused, has a fast heart rate and low blood pressure, and looks pale and sweaty. Which actions are appropriate? Select all that apply.
Promptly alert the responsible clinician or rapid-response team under local policy.
Assess the patient promptly.
Carry out urgent interventions that are authorized by role and protocol.
Reassess vital signs, perfusion, and mental status, and report the response.
Wait until the next routine round before notifying anyone.
Complete unrelated routine care before assessing the patient.
Checking whether an intervention worked by evaluating the patient's response is called .
True or false: Airway, breathing, and circulation are a useful starting point, but they do not replace considering the whole situation.
True
False
A patient appears to be deteriorating, but the assessment is not yet complete and no trigger score has been reached. What should the nurse do?
Wait to act until every assessment detail is collected.
Act promptly and get help, using the escalation process available.
Wait for a prescribed trigger score before seeking assistance.
A patient develops a rapidly worsening condition while other patients have routine needs. Explain how you would prioritize and respond, including what you would do if the patient does not improve after an initial intervention.
What three terms are represented by ABCs as a starting point for identifying immediate threats?
When a patient's new measurement is not dramatically abnormal by itself, what two references should you use to interpret the change?
A nurse is using ABCs to help prioritize patients. Which approach best applies this framework?
Use airway, breathing, and circulation as a complete substitute for considering other patient cues.
Use airway, breathing, and circulation as a starting point, then consider the patient's overall situation.
Use ABCs only after completing every routine task.
Use ABCs only when a prescribed trigger score has been reached.
Three patients need attention: one suddenly becomes short of breath and confused, looks clammy, and has falling oxygen saturation; another has unchanged long-standing knee pain; the third is alert and stable but requests bathroom assistance. Who should you see first?
See the patient with sudden shortness of breath, confusion, clamminess, and falling oxygen saturation first.
See the patient with long-standing knee pain first because the pain is rated 7/10.
Help the alert, stable patient to the bathroom first because the request is immediate.
Complete the scheduled tasks first, then compare the patients' conditions.
A patient appears to be deteriorating, but you have not completed the assessment and no prescribed trigger score has been reached. What is the most appropriate response?
Wait until every assessment detail is available before responding.
Wait for a prescribed trigger score, even if the patient visibly worsens.
Act promptly and get help through the available escalation process.
Continue routine care until the patient specifically asks for assistance.
A nurse is concerned about a patient's worsening condition, although one measurement does not meet a familiar rapid-response threshold. Which principle should guide the nurse?
Wait for a single numeric threshold because rapid-response criteria are the same everywhere.
Follow local policy and escalate based on clinical concern, even if one threshold is not met.
Escalate only when a provider has already ordered a rapid-response call.
Use staff concern only after all other patients have been assessed.
A patient being treated for an infection becomes newly confused, has a fast heart rate and low blood pressure, and appears pale and sweaty. What is the most appropriate response?
Promptly alert the responsible clinician or rapid-response team under local policy and assess the patient.
Wait to see whether the confusion resolves before notifying anyone.
Finish routine care first because the patient is already being treated for infection.
Document the findings and wait for the next scheduled vital-sign check.