The nurse has received the client assignment for the day. Which client should the nurse care for first?

The client with a cast who experiences numbness in the fingers should be seen first because this could be a symptom of compartment syndrome. Compartment syndrome creates an emergency situation when it does occur. Within 4 to 6 hours after the onset of compartment syndrome, neurovascular and muscle damage are irreversible if treatment is not provided. The limb can become useless in 24 to 48 hours. It would be expected that the client with a wound infection will have an elevation in body temperature. A client on anticoagulant therapy for treatment of a deep vein thrombosis who experiences bleeding gums when brushing teeth should be evaluated but is not the priority. A respiratory rate of 22 breaths per minute in the client with COPD is considered normal.