A nurse is assisting with planning care for a client who was admitted for reports of severe coughing, night sweats, and blood in the sputum. Which of the following precautions should the nurse take?

A. Perform immediate defibrillation: This is necessary for ventricular tachycardia with a pulse if it is unstable, but first, assess the client’s condition.
B. Provide pulmonary ventilation: This may be required depending on the client's breathing status but is secondary to assessing the pulse.
C. Determine palpable pulse: This is the priority action. Determining whether the client has a pulse helps guide the next steps—if the client has a pulse but is symptomatic, treatment will differ from if the client is pulseless.
D. Begin chest compressions: This is done if the client is pulseless. If there is a pulse, other interventions are needed first.

A. "My provider might prescribe a glucocorticoid regimen to decrease my risk for a stroke": This is incorrect as glucocorticoids are not typically used to reduce stroke risk; they are more commonly used to manage inflammation and other conditions.
B. "Having a total cholesterol level below 200 mg/dL increases my risk for a stroke": This is incorrect because having a total cholesterol level below 200 mg/dL is generally considered desirable and lowers the risk of stroke.
C. "My risk for a stroke increases if my HbA1c level is 6 percent or less": This is incorrect because an HbA1c level of 6 percent or less is generally considered well-managed for diabetes and does not increase stroke risk; higher levels are more concerning.
D. "I can decrease my risk for a stroke by losing excess weight": This is correct as losing excess weight can reduce the risk of stroke by improving overall cardiovascular health and managing diabetes.