If a patient is breathing with a radial pulse present and/or capillary refill is less than 2 seconds, what is the next step?

In an assessment involving a patient who is breathing adequately, has a radial pulse, and exhibits capillary refill of less than 2 seconds, checking the mental status is crucial. This step helps ensure that the patient's neurological function is intact and that they are responsive and alert.

Maintaining an understanding of the patient's awareness and cognitive function can indicate whether their condition is stable or if there are underlying issues that need to be addressed. A normal mental status suggests that the patient's circulatory and respiratory systems are functioning well, while abnormal findings could warrant immediate intervention.

While providing high-flow oxygen, monitoring, or tagging as delayed could be appropriate in different contexts of triage or treatment, assessing mental status comes first in this scenario, as it provides immediate insights into the patient's overall condition. This assessment is a critical part of the assessment protocol in emergency situations.