Care Manager Certification Practice Exam

What should a nurse prioritize when assessing a client who has multiple needs?

1. Conducting a thorough medical history.

2. Implementing prescribed medications.

3. Identifying the client’s immediate needs.

4. Consulting with other healthcare professionals.

The correct answer is: Identifying the client’s immediate needs.

Prioritizing the identification of a client’s immediate needs is essential in nursing assessments, especially for clients with multiple needs. This approach ensures that the most urgent and potentially life-threatening issues are addressed first. By recognizing what the client needs at that moment, the nurse can effectively allocate resources and direct interventions where they will have the most significant impact on the client's health and safety. When a client presents with multiple concerns, some needs may require more immediate attention than others, such as pain management, stabilization of vital signs, or addressing acute symptoms. The ability to assess and recognize these priorities allows for a more structured care plan that can adapt to the client’s evolving condition, ultimately improving outcomes. Conducting a thorough medical history, implementing prescribed medications, and consulting with other healthcare professionals are all crucial components of patient care. However, these actions stem from the prioritization of the client's immediate needs. Without first identifying and addressing those immediate needs, the effectiveness of subsequent steps may be diminished, as the nurse must ensure the client’s safety and comfort in the moment to facilitate overall treatment and recovery.