Nursing Prioritization

Refers to the process of deciding which patient care tasks or problems should be addressed first. It is a critical skill for nurses to ensure patient safety, manage time effectively, and deliver quality care.

Guidelines for Prioritization:

1. Use of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs:

   Physiological needs (airway, breathing, circulation, food, water, rest) take priority.

   Followed by safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization.

2. ABC Framework:

   A – Airway

   B – Breathing

   C – Circulation

   Safety

   Used in emergencies and acute care settings.

3. Acute vs. Chronic:

   Address acute problems before chronic ones.

   Sudden changes in condition are prioritized over stable conditions.

4. Actual vs. Potential Problems:

   Treat actual problems before addressing potential or risk issues.

5. Stable vs. Unstable:

   Unstable patients (e.g., fluctuating vitals, new symptoms) are prioritized over stable patients.

6. Time Sensitivity:

   Tasks that are time-sensitive (e.g., medication administration, responding to alarms) should be done promptly.

7. Evaluation:

   Continually evaluate current situation, needs, tasks, and prioritization

Example/Situations:

A post-op patient with low oxygen saturation is prioritized over a stable patient requesting pain medication.

A patient with shortness of breath gets priority over a patient needing assistance with bathing.

A patient with active bleeding is treated before someone who is anxious but stable.