need help with these questions

[cwvpool]

Patient has gallbladder disease and is in extreme pain and has vomited some, Do I take care of his pain first or his fluid status

Also a patient has acute pancreatitis and needs his pain meds and my other patient has liver cirohissis(spelling) who was confused in the night who do I go see first?

[Jolie, BSN]

I agree with Ashley.

I would treat the pain first in the patient with vomiting.

I also agree that the confused patient should be seen first in that scenario. I don't mean to minimize pain, but briefly enduring it will not typically harm a patient. Unaddressed confusion may, if the individual tries to climb out of bed, tries to remove IV's or other devices or wanders off.

For the sake of safety, I would see the confused patient first.

I'll be interested to hear your instructor's answers and rationale.

[ParkerBC,MSN,RN, PhD, RN]

I agree with Ashley.

I would treat the pain first in the patient with vomiting.

I also agree that the confused patient should be seen first in that scenario. I don't mean to minimize pain, but briefly enduring it will not typically harm a patient. Unaddressed confusion may, if the individual tries to climb out of bed, tries to remove IV's or other devices or wanders off.

For the sake of safety, I would see the confused patient first.

I'll be interested to hear your instructor's answers and rationale.

I agree! The patient who is confused is a potential fall risk. Pain for the first question and the confused patient for the second question.

[lovewounds]

Im thinking ABCs then pain? IDK im just 1st block nursing!

[milksteak]

To help you with future questions like this, think of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. What comes first?

If you know Maslow's then you'll never have to ask again, and you will be able to figure it out w/ no problem :)

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

nclex always wants to know if you can prioritize, and the first priority is safety. could mean "airway open?" or "fall risk?" or "ignorance of how to manage own illness?"

vomiting can mean possible aspiration, so make sure airway is ok (level of consciousness helps c that-- pain med change that any?) cirrhosis can often make for confusion; if your scenario mentions that, i'd put that safety measure before anybody's pain.

this is why it's called critical thinking.