You are a nurse admitting a patient to the hospital from the emergency department (ED) with shortness of breath and recent weight loss. After receiving a report from the ED nurse, you ready the patient’s room according to unit specifications and collect the necessary equipment and forms. When the patient arrives, she is using oxygen via a nasal cannula and seems to be comfortable. As you begin your admission activities and paperwork, you note that her shortness of breath slightly increases as she answers your questions.

a. What data in the scenario are pertinent?

b. What type of nursing assessment would you expect to complete and why?

c. Why would you need to establish assessment priorities?

d. What patient factors would assist in identifying and prioritizing data?

e. What challenges might the nurse encounter during data collection?