Which of the following is a second-level priority problem?

• A. Airway obstruction
• B. Altered mental status
• C. Unstable vital signs
• D. Cardiac arrest

Answer: (B)

Prioritizing care hinges on addressing life-threatening issues first. Problems that directly threaten airway, breathing, or circulation demand immediate action. An airway obstruction is an immediate danger to oxygenation and requires instant intervention; cardiac arrest is the ultimate emergency needing immediate resuscitation. Unstable vital signs indicate the patient is at high risk for rapid deterioration and require quick stabilization, but they’re not by themselves an immediate loss of airway or circulation like the other two. Altered mental status signals a potentially serious underlying problem (such as hypoxia, stroke, infection, or metabolic disturbance) and needs prompt assessment and intervention to prevent deterioration, but it does not constitute an immediate airway or circulation threat in that moment. That’s why altered mental status is considered a second-level priority.