A nurse has just received a report on all four of his patients for his upcoming shift on a medical/surgical floor. Which of the patients should the nurse attend to first?

This nurse should prioritize his patients by attending to the most unstable patient first. In this case, the patient with COPD who is complaining of dyspnea and has a low pulse oximetry reading is his first priority. While patients with pain and wound drainage require nursing attention, their needs are not as urgent as one complaining of dyspnea that is accompanied by signs of hypoxemia. Stable patients, such as the one with atrial fibrillation, do not require immediate attention.