Which action is the highest priority for a nurse caring for a 2-year-old patient who ingested a household chemical?

In a situation where a 2-year-old has ingested a household chemical, the highest priority is to assess the client. This assessment is crucial as it provides immediate information about the child's current condition, including vital signs, level of consciousness, and any potential symptoms of poisoning, such as difficulty breathing, vomiting, or seizures. Gathering this information helps determine the severity of the situation and informs subsequent interventions.

While ensuring that there is no further exposure to the poison is important, the priority is to evaluate the child's immediate health status first. Similarly, identifying the specific type of poison is significant for treatment but must come after assessing the child’s condition, as the urgency lies in stabilizing the patient's health. Administering an antidote can be lifesaving, but it should only be done after understanding the patient's state and confirming the appropriateness of the antidote for the specific substance ingested. Prioritizing assessment allows the nurse to make informed decisions regarding the interventions that follow.