Which framework helps determine the priority of patient problems when multiple needs exist?

• A. ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) followed by safety and psychosocial needs.
• B. Maslow's hierarchy of needs
• C. NOC/NIC charting
• D. SOAP notes

Answer: (A)

Prioritizing patient problems in acute care hinges on addressing the most life‑threatening issues first. The ABCs framework guides this by focusing on airway first, then breathing, then circulation. If any of these are compromised, the immediate goal is to restore ventilation and perfusion, because without a stable airway, adequate breathing, and a functioning circulatory system, other needs can’t be safely managed. Once those critical physiologic concerns are stabilized, attention shifts to safety—preventing harm, ensuring fall prevention, infection control, and monitoring for potential complications. After safety and vital signs are stabilized, psychosocial needs are addressed, since they influence recovery but are not usually life‑threatening in the moment. This sequence provides a practical method for ranking multiple needs in real time. Maslow’s hierarchy is a general theory of human motivation, not a clinical prioritization tool. NOC/NIC charting and SOAP notes are about documenting outcomes, diagnoses, and interventions, not guiding the order in which problems are addressed.