The nurse is caring for a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who develops an onset of dyspnea and tachypnea with coughing. After positioning the client upright, which action should the nurse take next?

The nursing process requires assessment before intervention. An acute onset of dyspnea and tachypnea signals a potential change in respiratory status that must be assessed first. Obtaining a pulse oximetry reading provides immediate, objective data on the client's oxygenation status, which is critical for determining the severity of the situation and guiding subsequent interventions. Initiating a treatment (B, C) or coaching a technique (D) without first assessing the client's current oxygenation status could be ineffective or harmful.