A nurse is assessing a client who sustained a basal skull fracture and notes a thin stream of clear drainage coming from the clientÔÇÖs right nostril. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

The correct answer is D: Test the drainage for glucose. This is the first action the nurse should take because clear drainage from the nose following a basal skull fracture may indicate a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. Testing the drainage for glucose can help differentiate between CSF and other types of nasal discharge. If the drainage tests positive for glucose, it confirms the presence of CSF. This finding is crucial for determining the appropriate management and potential complications associated with a CSF leak.

Summary of other choices:
A: Asking the client to blow his nose is not appropriate as it can increase intracranial pressure.
B: Suctioning the nostril can worsen the CSF leak and should be avoided.
C: Notifying the physician is important, but testing the drainage for glucose should be done first.
E, F, G: No additional options provided, but none would be more appropriate than testing the drainage for glucose.