Prioritization of Postoperative Care

A nurse in a busy surgical unit is completing rounds and must prioritize care for four postoperative patients. Each patient has different needs and conditions. The following descriptions outline the current status of each patient:

Patient A: A 65-year-old female who underwent a hip replacement and is reporting moderate pain (8/10) with limited mobility due to the pain.

Patient B: A 72-year-old male who had an open-heart surgery and is showing signs of bleeding from the incision site with vital signs stable.

Patient C: A 58-year-old female who had a laparoscopic cholecystectomy and is experiencing nausea but is stable and alert.

Patient D: A 80-year-old male who had a hip fracture repair and is exhibiting confusion and a low blood pressure (90/58).

The nurse must prioritize care by identifying the patient requiring immediate intervention. Fill in the blank with the appropriate patient identifier (A, B, C, or D) who should be prioritized for care based on their condition:

Prioritize care for patient: _______