Multiple Choice Set 1: Prioritization & Safety (NCLEX)

The nurse on a medical-surgical unit has just received report on four clients. Which client should the nurse assess first?

1.A client 1 day after a bowel resection who has not yet passed flatus
2.A client 1 day after a knee replacement who rates the pain as 7 on a scale of 0 to 10
3.A client 6 hours after a hysterectomy who is anxious, with clammy skin, a pulse of 118/min and a blood pressure of 112/70 mm Hg
4.A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who has a pulse oximetry reading of 90% on oxygen, with an ordered target of 88% to 92%