On a medical unit with five clients, one needs a dressing change, another needs a shower, another needs teaching about a stoma, and the nurse must review all labs. Which task should be done first?

• A. Review labs
• B. Shower
• C. Dressing change
• D. Stoma teaching

Answer: (C)

Prioritizing tasks by immediacy of threat to safety guides this choice. A dressing change directly protects a wound and minimizes infection risk, making it the most time-sensitive action among the options. Delaying wound care can lead to contamination, drainage buildup, or complications that can escalate quickly. The shower is important for hygiene but can be postponed briefly without immediate danger. Stoma teaching is educational and can wait until basic safety needs are stabilized. Reviewing labs is crucial for monitoring, but unless there’s an urgent abnormal value requiring immediate intervention, it can be completed after the wound care is addressed.