There has been a mass casualty shooting at a nearby school. A nurse is working in the emergency department and is asked to triage patients as they arrive at the hospital. Which of these is the correct order for the nurse to use when conducting her exam?

The triage exam in an emergency situation should always occur in this order:
1. Make sure the airway is open and patent.
2. Assess for respiratory distress and then note quality of the patient’s breathing including signs of adequate air exchange and perfusion.
3. Find a pulse and note the quality.
4. Do a quick assessment for major external wounds that could lead to significant blood loss.
5. Obtain a blood pressure.
6. Assess the neurological function via level of consciousness, pupillary response to light, etc.