What should a nurse do if a patient is found unresponsive?

• A. Check the patient's vital signs and wait for help
• B. Call for assistance and initiate CPR if needed
• C. Administer oxygen to the patient
• D. Contact the physician immediately

Answer: (B)

When a nurse encounters an unresponsive patient, the immediate priority is to ensure the patient's safety and initiate life-saving measures if necessary. Calling for assistance and initiating CPR if needed is the most critical action in this scenario. The rationale behind this choice is that unresponsiveness often indicates a potential medical emergency, such as cardiac arrest, where immediate intervention can significantly improve survival outcomes.

Initiating CPR is vital because it helps maintain blood flow to vital organs, including the brain and heart, until professional help arrives. Time is of the essence, and every second counts in such emergencies. Once assistance is called for, the nurse can focus on providing CPR, ensuring that the patient has the best chance of recovery.

Other options lack the urgency required in this situation. Checking vital signs and waiting for help could delay necessary interventions. While monitoring vital signs is important, it should not take precedence over starting CPR and calling for help. Administering oxygen may be part of the treatment once the patient's airway is secure, but it is not an immediate action that addresses the urgency of unresponsiveness. Contacting the physician is also important for further orders, but again, it cannot take priority over initiating CPR or calling for assistance first. Thus, addressing the immediate life-threatening condition through