Which patient to see first?

[Bea Bea, MSN, NP]

Hello all, I am taking the NCLEX next month and I have been practicing with Kaplan. I know that the NCLEX will have a lot of priority questions, like the who do you see first. I try using the Kaplan method: stable vs unstable, acute vs chronic, etc and the ABCs but sometimes I find it hard to employ those methods. Maybe I'm interpreting the answer choices wrong? Any advice?

[SunshineDaisy, ASN, RN]

I always went with who would die if I didn't take care of them NOW.

[Mybug08]

I used LaCharity PDA, very helpful! you can buy it or rent it from Barnes and Nobles. Heard a lot of great things about it and I can see it in my results that I'm getting those questions correct. Hope this helps, good luck!

[itsbekah]

I too get baffled by priority questions. When I took NCLEX there were so many. What is the tip between acute vs chronic? Could you enlighten me?

[BriManRN]

I too get baffled by priority questions. When I took NCLEX there were so many. What is the tip between acute vs chronic? Could you enlighten me?

I was taught always see the pt who acutely ill vs pt who has a chronic illness...they are considered stable. If you see the word chronic in the question that's NOT the answer. Hope this helps :)

[anashenwrath, ASN, RN]

who's going to die first if you don't go into their room and help? Even severe pain is not as important as someone who is at risk for aspiration. If you go into Pain Guy's room, yeah, you stop his pain. while you're doing that, Aspiration Dude begins to choke. Go into Aspiration Dude's room and sit him up or whatever, and what happens to Pain Guy? Uh, he's just still in pain. He'll LIVE.

Acute vs chronic just means acute conditions usually have more priority. If someone has COPD and their O2 sat is low... well, that's just kind of what happens with COPD folks, isn't it. Compare that to someone with evidence of an MI (sorry to go for an easy one) and it's a no brainer. The acute condition wins. It can be tricky sometimes, bcs chronic conditions can have acute moments (autonomic dysreflexia, anyone?)

Hope that helps. Remember: think about the outcome of your actions. What is Choice 2 doing while you're helping Choice 1?

YOU GOT THIS!

[itsbekah]

Thank you so much for your replies. Makes sense. I'll definitely try that one.

[BriManRN]

Also if it doesn't out right say chronic DM.. You know that DM, CKD are chronic illnesses. So just read what dx the patients have and figure out which are chronic and which is emergent or possibly emergent.

[Bea Bea, MSN, NP]

Thanks for the advice!

[deepu245]

I am following pda for priority and it it is worthy..