One of the biggest things that they've hammered into our head over the last 8 months of nursing school is the importance of the ABCs: airway, breathing and circulation. Everyone has heard the multiple choice adage of: when in doubt choose C. In nursing school, it's more along the lines of: when in doubt, choose to assess the ABCs.
That being said, sage nursing advice of the day:
"If they're screaming at least you know they are getting air... you've got time..."