Health assessment · practice question

A 66-year-old client in an outpatient clinic is being evaluated for focused reassessment during hospitalization. Assessment data include respiratory rate 8/min, shallow breathing, and SpO2 86% on room air. Which action should the nurse take first?

Multiple choiceHardnclex-rn-bsnnclex-validatednclex-2026health-assessment

Assess airway, breathing, and circulation; address immediate safety risk; then notify the provider per protocol.Wait for the provider's routine visit before acting on abnormal findings.Offer a warm blanket and reschedule assessment until after lunch.Complete all remaining scheduled tasks before reassessing the client.

Answer and explanation

Correct answer

A. Assess airway, breathing, and circulation; address immediate safety risk; then notify the provider per protocol.

Why

NCLEX priority questions require stabilizing the client first using ABCs and focused assessment before comfort measures, documentation only, or delayed escalation.

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A 66-year-old client in an outpatient clinic is being evaluated for focused reassessment during hospitalization. Assessment data include respiratory rate 8/min, shallow breathing, and SpO2 86% on room air. Which action should the nurse take first?

Correct answer

Why

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