Pathophysiology Case Scenario: Triage Your Patients! You are a clinic triage nur
ID: 93599 • Letter: P
Question
Pathophysiology Case Scenario:
Triage Your Patients!
You are a clinic triage nurse responsible for medically prioritizing patients. Four patients present at the same time. Explain which patient should be treated first and which should be treated last. Support your reasons with information from the text or credible outside sources.
1. Infant with fever, audible inspiratory stridor, and restlessness.
2. Young male in his mid-20s with nasal drainage and hoarseness.
3. Middle-aged woman with fever, severe body aches, and nasal congestion.
4. Man in his late 50s with stage III carcinoma of the bronchioles complaining of nausea and significant pain.
Explanation / Answer
Priority list of Patients:
To be treated first:
1. Infant with fever, audible inspiratory stridor, and restlessness.
Explanation: Infants with stridor, an airway obstruction, demand immediate attention as it can be potentially life threatening.
To be treated last:
2. Young male in his mid-20s with nasal drainage and hoarseness.
Explanation: The condition can go away on its own.