After receiving report, the nurse working on the step-down neurological unit begins care for four clients. Prioritize the order in which the nurse should assess the four clients.

The 24-year-old who had been unconscious at the scene of an MVA and is being admitted from the ED for observation. The nurse should assess the newly admitted client first to determine whether there are changes in level of consciousness and any early signs of increased ICP. The 78-year-old who underwent evacuation of a chronic subdural hematoma 24 hours earlier and is recovering. This client should be assessed next because the client is postoperative day 1, but stable. The 30-year-old who was diagnosed with viral meningitis 2 days earlier and wants to talk with the HCP. This client has a self-limiting condition and likely wants to be discharged; thus, he or she should be assessed third. The 40-year-old with Guillain-Barr├® who is currently receiving a third bedside plasmapheresis treatment being administered by another nurse. This client can be assessed last because another nurse is in the room with the client administering the plasmapheresis treatment.