Upon arrival during a busy shift, an experienced emergency nurse receives these patients consecutively: 1) A 45-year-old with a sprained ankle and mild swelling, 2) A 55-year-old complaining of a sudden, severe headache with a history of hypertension, 3) A 30-year-old with a laceration on the forearm and minimal bleeding, and 4) A 60-year-old reporting chest pain and diaphoresis. Which patient should the nurse prioritize to receive immediate medical evaluation?
The 45-year-old with a sprained ankle and mild swelling
The 60-year-old reporting chest pain and diaphoresis
The 30-year-old with a laceration on the forearm and minimal bleeding
The 55-year-old complaining of a sudden, severe headache
The patient reporting chest pain and diaphoresis (profuse sweating) should be triaged as the highest priority because these symptoms are indicative of potentially life-threatening conditions, such as myocardial infarction. Immediate medical evaluation is necessary to confirm the diagnosis and initiate treatment. The sudden severe headache could suggest a cerebral hemorrhage and also needs prompt attention, but it is ranked lower than chest pain with diaphoresis due to the acuteness and higher mortality associated with cardiac events. The patient with a sprained ankle and the patient with a forearm laceration, while requiring care, do not exhibit signs of life-threatening conditions and can be seen after the more critical patients have been attended to.
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