Free BCEN Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) Practice Question

Immediate administration of high-dose corticosteroids is the best initial intervention for suspected temporal arteritis. This condition is a medical emergency and requires rapid treatment to prevent serious complications such as vision loss. While recommending further evaluation by a rheumatologist, performing a temporal artery biopsy, and conducting a complete blood count are all relevant to the diagnosis and management of temporal arteritis, they do not address the immediate need to reduce inflammation and prevent possible complications.