You are caring for an attempted suicide patient who has shot himself in the chest. What would be the priority of treatment?

In a case where a patient has shot himself in the chest, the priority of treatment is to occlude the open wound. This is critical because an open chest wound can lead to a life-threatening condition known as a pneumothorax, where air enters the pleural cavity and can collapse the lung. By occluding the wound, you can help prevent air from entering the chest cavity, stabilize the patient's condition, and minimize the risk of further complications.

The immediate management of a chest injury involves addressing the most life-threatening issues first, and controlling the open wound is essential in preventing further deterioration of the patient's respiratory status. This initial management can be crucial while awaiting advanced medical care and transport to a facility.

Other options, while they might be important aspects of patient care, are not the immediate priority in this critical scenario.