Which role triages patients as they enter the ED, interviews the patient first, administers medications as ordered by the physician, and tracks the patient's progress?

• A. Nurses
• B. Healthcare Unit Coordinators
• C. Community Volunteers
• D. Chaplains and Social Workers

Answer: (A)

In the ED, the nurse role is responsible for the full cycle of initial patient contact and ongoing care. This includes triaging the patient as they arrive, performing the initial clinical interview to gather history and symptoms, and conducting a rapid assessment to prioritize treatment. Nurses also administer medications as ordered by the physician and continuously monitor the patient’s response, adjusting care as needed and documenting progress. Their ongoing tracking of vitals, symptoms, and interventions informs the treatment plan and ensures timely communication with the physician and the rest of the care team. Other roles focus on non-clinical tasks or psychosocial support, so they don’t typically perform triage, initial medical interviews, medication administration, and ongoing progress monitoring.