Which of the following patients should the nurse assess first? 1. the patient wi

3. the newly admitted patient complaining of substernal chest pain. Patient has recently had a father die from heart disease

You always want to care for those in critical condition and down. 3 is most important since there is a a family history of heart disease and the patient is experiencing symptoms now. 2 would be the patient you would want to see next since he is not in as much of a critical need but the edema can be an issue related to the heart that should be checked. 4 would be next because the key word says the patient is hyperventilating, patient should be accessed as to where their oxygen levels are at. choice 1 is the least worrisome, its likely hearing the word "occasional" that this is a chronic disease  for the patient and you want to treat those in acute pain first. Also the chest pain is not a usual symptom and is likely related to something else rather than the disease itself.

The nurse would want to assess the newly admitted patient with substernal chest pain with a family history of cardiac disease and initiate any interventions that are appropriate. The patient who is hyperventilating could be having an anxiety attack, but needs to be assessed as soon as possible. The patient with gallbladder disease may have chest pain that is not cardiac related. The elderly patient with increasing edema of the extremities would need evaluation, but after the newly admitted patient.

3. the newly admitted patient complaining of substernal chest pain. Patient has recently had a father die from heart disease