Which victim from a motor vehicle crash should the emergency department nurse attend to first?

In a scenario involving victims from a motor vehicle crash, prioritization of care is crucial due to the varying levels of urgency associated with different injuries. The individual who should be attended to first is the 45-year-old man with chest pain and shortness of breath.

This patient's symptoms suggest potential life-threatening conditions such as a myocardial infarction or pulmonary embolism. Chest pain and shortness of breath indicate that there may be serious cardiovascular or respiratory issues at play. Rapid assessment and intervention are necessary to prevent deterioration or fatal outcomes, making this situation a clear priority for the emergency department nurse.

In contrast, while the other patients also have concerning conditions, they may not present the same immediate risk to life. The child with a bleeding laceration requires attention, but if the bleeding is controlled and not life-threatening, it may be managed after more critical cases. The woman with a fractured wrist and the older woman with first-degree burns also have injuries that, while painful and needing care, typically do not represent immediate life threats. This illustrates the importance of assessing not only the injuries but also the potential for complications that can arise from those conditions when determining the order in which patients should be treated.