Most sexually transmitted infections are silent, which is why screening rather than symptoms controls them — but when findings do appear, they point somewhere specific. Light up findings and watch the organism, the regimen and the nursing priorities assemble. Then put five waiting patients into the order you would really see them, and run the clock that decides whether post-exposure prophylaxis is still on the table.
Turn on what you actually found
And do not forget the swab. Testing is by nucleic acid amplification from urine, vaginal, rectal or pharyngeal specimens — sampled according to the practices the patient described in your history. A urine NAAT will miss a pharyngeal gonorrhoea entirely.
Five patients are waiting. Tap them in the order you will see them.
The deciding rules, in order. Airway, breathing and circulation outrank everything. Unstable outranks stable. Acute outranks chronic. Actual problems outrank potential ones. Physiologic need outranks emotional need — which does not mean the emotional need is optional, only that it is not first.
What was the exposure
Hours since the exposure6hr
Post-exposure prophylaxis must begin within 72 hours