What should a nurse do first upon entering a room where a patient appears restless and diaphoretic?

In situations where a patient appears restless and diaphoretic, the most appropriate initial action is to perform a full patient assessment. This is crucial because these symptoms can indicate a variety of underlying issues, such as anxiety, pain, hypoxia, or even a medical emergency like shock or cardiac distress.

Conducting a comprehensive assessment allows the nurse to gather critical information about the patient’s vital signs, level of consciousness, and other relevant physical findings. This understanding will help determine the most immediate and appropriate interventions required to stabilize the patient and address their needs effectively.

Promptly assessing the patient can lead to identifying the causes of their distress and initiating the necessary interventions in a timely manner, which is essential in nursing practice. The other options, while they may be part of the overall care process, do not address the immediate clinical needs of the patient based on the observed symptoms.