HESI Fundamentals Study Guide Related

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While providing care to a group of patients, which patient should the nurse prioritize seeing first?

  • A. A patient with a hip replacement on prolonged bed rest reporting chest pain and dyspnea
  • B. A bedridden patient with a reddened area on the buttocks who needs to be turned
  • C. A patient on bed rest with renal calculi who needs to go to the bathroom
  • D. A patient post-knee surgery who needs range of motion exercises
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The nurse should prioritize seeing the patient with a hip replacement on prolonged bed rest reporting chest pain and dyspnea first. This patient is at higher risk for deep vein thrombosis due to prolonged bed rest, which can lead to a life-threatening embolus. Chest pain and dyspnea could also indicate a potential pulmonary embolism, which requires immediate assessment and intervention. The other patients, while requiring care, do not present with symptoms that suggest an immediate life-threatening situation, making them lower priority at this time. Therefore, option A is the correct choice as it addresses a potentially critical condition that requires immediate attention.