American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Practice Exam 2025 – Comprehensive All-in-One Guide for Exam Success!

In a situation where a patient presents with acute pain and loss of vision in one eye, the recommended intervention is immediate referral to an ophthalmologist. This is critical because acute visual loss can be indicative of serious conditions such as retinal detachment, acute glaucoma, or even central retinal artery occlusion. These conditions often require prompt medical or surgical intervention to prevent permanent vision loss.

While assessment with a slit lamp and examination with an otoscope can be part of the evaluation process in a clinical setting, they typically do not replace the need for specialist referral in urgent situations. These examinations may be more suitable for routine evaluations or less urgent cases. Similarly, treatment with various ophthalmologic agents is usually not warranted as a first-line intervention in this scenario, especially without a confirmed diagnosis from an appropriate specialist.

Thus, the urgency and potential severity of the patient's symptoms necessitate immediate specialist care, making the referral to an ophthalmologist the most appropriate and effective response.