A client with asthma presents to the emergency department with severe wheezing, dyspnea, and an inability to speak in full sentences. Which action should the nurse take *first*?

✓ Correct Answer: Option A

For an acute asthma exacerbation, administering a short-acting beta-agonist (e.g., albuterol) is the immediate priority. It provides rapid bronchodilation to relieve airway obstruction and improve breathing. Other actions are secondary.