Prioritization (ABCs) — NCLEX Cheat Sheet
Airway → Breathing → Circulation
👤 By the CinnaRN Clinical Content Team
🕐 Updated 2026-07-11
🏷️ Management of Care
🔖 Free to read, print, and share
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Use this quick-reference guide to spot, treat, and prevent Prioritization (ABCs) on the NCLEX. Keep it handy during review and on exam day!
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- Airway first → obstruction = fatal
- Breathing → SpO2, distress
- Circulation → bleeding, perfusion
- D = Disability (neuro/LOC)
- Then safety, then comfort
- Acute/unstable before chronic
- Actual problem before risk
- Unexpected before expected
- Sudden change → see first
- Stridor/silent chest = emergency
✨Quick Tip
Airway problems (stridor, choking, obstruction, absent gag) come before breathing problems.
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