A nurse in the emergency department is preparing to care for a client who arrived via ambulance. The client is disoriented and has a cardiac arrhythmia. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

The correct answer is C: Proceed with treatment without obtaining written consent. In emergency situations, the priority is to stabilize the client's condition to prevent further harm or complications. Obtaining written consent may delay crucial treatment, which could be life-saving in this scenario. The nurse should initiate treatment promptly based on the principle of implied consent, assuming the client is unable to provide consent due to their disoriented state. Notifying risk management (A) or contacting next of kin for consent (B) may be important steps after stabilizing the client but are not the immediate priority. Having the client sign a consent form (D) is not feasible when the client is disoriented and in need of urgent care.