A child is brought to the emergency department with burns on the face and chest. What is the nurse's first priority?

Remove clothing. Removing clothing is important to prevent further injury from retained heat or chemicals, but it is not the first priority compared to ensuring a patent airway and adequate breathing. Administer pain medication. Pain management is important but comes after ensuring the child's airway and respiratory status are stable. Assess respiratory status. Burns on the face and chest can compromise the airway and breathing. Assessing respiratory status is the first priority to ensure the child's airway is not obstructed and that they are receiving adequate oxygen. Insert a Foley catheter. Inserting a Foley catheter may be necessary to monitor urine output and assess kidney function in severe burns, but it is not the first priority compared to assessing respiratory status.