QUICK PRIORITY ASSESSMENT
Is a rapid patient assessment completed at the beginning of the shift to ensure there are no urgent
issues.
Quick Priority Assessment (QPA) EXAMPLE
Start of shift guidelines for patient safety (following shift report)
Do quick check of all patients in your assignment: If there are no problems this check should take
a maximum of 1 minute / patient.
 Tell patient your name and status “I am Mary, I’ll be your nurse for today”.

A quick check of ABC’s: ensure patient is not in any immediate distress or pain.
Example: as you are looking at your patient you can see if they are breathing adequately,
skin is pink, any unusual facial expressions, mentation based on comments back to you. If
you touch their arm you can quickly check skin perfusion – moisture, temp. etc.

A quick intervention check: Visualize IV fluids, O2, suction, drainage tubes, telemetry
reading (as applicable). Note: if there is anything abnormal, such as 02 tubing laying on
the floor / large amount of fresh blood in wound drain. Is the IV bag almost empty? etc.
Patient environment: Bed in lowest position & side rail up/down as appropriate.
Necessary items within reach? (call bell, mobility aides, hearing aides, glasses, teeth, etc.)

Note: findings or urgent patient needs may change the direction of the assessment. Any patient in
acute distress will require an immediate targeted systems assessment and appropriate nursing
actions.
Documentation:
Use a (√) to indicate that the QPA was completed at the start of the shift under Safety on the 24
Hour Flow Sheet.
July 25, 2014