What should you do if you find a patient unresponsive?

Finding a patient unresponsive requires immediate action to ensure their safety and health. Calling for help and beginning CPR if necessary is the appropriate response because it prioritizes the patient’s critical condition. In an emergency situation, quick intervention can be life-saving, especially if the patient is in cardiac arrest. CPR helps maintain blood flow to the organs and is vital until professional medical help arrives.

The other options do not adequately address the immediate need for intervention. Shaking the patient and yelling may not be effective and can potentially worsen the situation by causing further injury or distress. Leaving the room to find a nurse delays crucial care. Checking the pulse and waiting does not provide any necessary assistance and could result in a lack of timely medical intervention, which is particularly dangerous in an emergency. Thus, the correct course of action is to call for help and start CPR if the patient is not breathing or has no pulse.