How do you determine which patient to see first on the NCLEX?

To determine which patient to see first, identify which patient is most unstable or has the most immediate risk of deterioration. Apply ABCs first: airway problems before breathing problems before circulation problems. Then consider acute versus chronic: new onset symptoms take priority over expected findings in a chronic condition. A patient with a new temperature of 101.5 after surgery is a higher priority than a patient with chronic heart failure who has baseline peripheral edema. Unexpected findings always take priority over expected findings.