What is the main priority for a nurse when managing a client with respiratory difficulty?

Administering prescribed medications is the main priority for a nurse when managing a client with respiratory difficulty because timely intervention with medications can help stabilize the patient’s condition. This could include bronchodilators, corticosteroids, or other respiratory treatments that directly address the immediate needs of the client, improving their ability to breathe and ensuring adequate oxygenation.

While assessing underlying causes is important for understanding the full scope of the patient’s condition, the priority in an acute situation is to act quickly to alleviate respiratory distress, which medications can do. Providing reassurance is helpful for reducing anxiety but does not directly address the physiological issues at hand. Documenting client status is essential for maintaining accurate medical records, but it is not an immediate intervention that relieves respiratory difficulty. Therefore, the administration of medications is crucial in ensuring the client's safety and stability in a situation involving respiratory challenges.