Certified Medical Assistant Practice Exam

Which of the following patients should be seen first if all of them arrived at the walk-in center at approximately the same time?

1. A 45-year-old female with a minor cut on her finger

2. A 60-year-old male with a twisted ankle

3. A 30-year-old female with a headache

4. A 56-year-old male with dyspnea

The correct answer is: A 56-year-old male with dyspnea

The correct choice is the 56-year-old male with dyspnea because this patient is experiencing difficulty breathing, which is a potentially life-threatening condition. In a medical setting, dyspnea may indicate a serious underlying issue, such as heart problems, respiratory conditions, or an allergic reaction. Immediate assessment and intervention are critical in cases of dyspnea to stabilize the patient and prevent further complications. In contrast, the other patients present with conditions that, while needing attention, do not represent an immediate threat to life. The minor cut on the finger is not urgent, the twisted ankle, while painful, can wait for evaluation, and the headache, depending on its intensity and duration, is less pressing than respiratory distress. Prioritization in a walk-in center setting involves assessing which conditions could result in significant morbidity or mortality if not addressed promptly, and dyspnea certainly falls into this category.