What is the priority framework to use when prioritizing patient care?

The correct approach to prioritizing patient care emphasizes the ABCs, which stand for Airway, Breathing, and Circulation. This is a foundational principle in nursing and emergency care. The ABC framework focuses on the physiological needs of patients, prioritizing the most critical and time-sensitive issues affecting their survival.

When applying this framework, if a patient is experiencing an airway obstruction, this condition must be addressed immediately, as it poses a direct life threat. Following airway management, attention is given to breathing issues, ensuring that the patient has adequate oxygenation and ventilation. Finally, circulation involves assessing and managing factors related to blood flow and cardiac function.

While Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is valuable for understanding the broader spectrum of human needs—from physiological to self-actualization—it is secondary to the immediate medical requirements encountered in acute situations. Patient satisfaction ratings, while important in the realm of healthcare quality and patient-centered care, do not take precedence over life-sustaining measures. Hence, the focus remains on the ABCs as the priority framework for effective patient care prioritization.