What is the first action a nurse should take for a patient bleeding profusely from an abdominal incision?

In a scenario where a patient is bleeding profusely from an abdominal incision, the immediate priority is to stabilize the patient and control the bleeding. Applying pressure to the dressing is a critical step that should occur promptly, but it is not the first action the nurse should take. Before calling for assistance or ordering a complete blood count, the nurse must ensure that the situation is addressed in a hierarchical manner.

The most appropriate first action a nurse should take in this critical situation is to apply pressure to the dressing. This action can help control the bleeding effectively. Once this is done, the nurse can then proceed to call for assistance, especially if the bleeding does not stop, and further intervention from the surgical team is needed.

In emergency situations involving significant bleeding, the nurse's role includes preserving life and minimizing injury. Therefore, the focus should be on direct patient management, which starts with applying pressure or a dressing to the wound. After stabilizing the bleeding, the nurse can then initiate other actions such as notifying the surgeon or obtaining lab tests, but these are secondary to immediate bleeding control.