A nurse is caring for a patient with a confirmed pulmonary embolism who is experiencing acute dyspnea and chest pain. Which nursing action should be the highest priority?

Administering high-flow oxygen and preparing for emergencies addresses immediate life-threatening hypoxemia in suspected PE. Assessment and education are important but secondary to stabilizing the patient.

Clinical Priority Setting in Acute Pulmonary Embolism

When a patient with a confirmed pulmonary embolism presents with acute dyspnea and chest pain, the nurse must immediately apply the Airway, Breathing, Circulation (ABC) framework to identify the highest priority intervention. The patient's symptoms indicate a critical mismatch between ventilation and perfusion (V/Q mismatch), leading to profound hypoxemia.

The formalized expert recommendations for the initial assessment of respiratory distress emphasize that the very first step in management is to assess and support oxygenation and ventilation, as hypoxemia is the most immediate threat to life ^[1]. Administering high-flow oxygen directly addresses the "Breathing" component of the ABCs by attempting to correct the hypoxemia that is causing the patient's acute distress. Simultaneously preparing for emergency interventions, such as notifying the rapid response team or preparing for potential advanced airway management and administration of thrombolytics, is a critical parallel action that anticipates the rapid deterioration these patients can experience. This dual action of immediate support and proactive preparation is the cornerstone of emergency nursing care for a life-threatening condition.

While the other options represent important aspects of comprehensive nursing care, they are not the highest priority in the acute, unstable phase. Obtaining a detailed history of travel and immobilization is a secondary assessment task that helps confirm risk factors but does not address the patient's immediate physiological crisis. A comprehensive physical assessment, including lung sounds, is part of a focused respiratory assessment but must be performed rapidly and should never delay life-saving interventions like oxygen administration. Patient education about anticoagulation therapy is a crucial long-term goal for preventing recurrence, but it is inappropriate and unsafe to prioritize teaching when the patient is in severe physiological distress and their safety is compromised. The immediate priority is to stabilize the patient's oxygenation and hemodynamic status, guided by the structured, evidence-based approach to respiratory distress ^[1].