RN Exam Practice
Management of CareQuestion 2243 of 2368

Two clients report pain at the start of the shift. One has long-standing arthritis pain, and the other has new, sudden, severe abdominal pain. Which client should the nurse assess first?

  1. The client with long-standing arthritis pain
  2. The client with sudden, severe abdominal pain
  3. The client who rang the call light first
  4. Both clients can wait until after morning medications
Show answer

Correct answer: The client with sudden, severe abdominal pain

Acute conditions have a sudden, severe onset and can signal a change in condition, so acute pain takes priority.

Source: Nursing Management and Professional Concepts, 2nd edition (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2024), Prioritization: Acute Versus Chronic Conditions. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Practice the topic "Management of Care"

Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026