A 78-year-old female patient is admitted to the hospital with complaints of abdominal discomfort, constipation, and difficulty passing stools. The patient has also been experiencing urinary incontinence. She has a history of chronic constipation and is on long-term opioid therapy for pain management due to osteoarthritis. The patient is oriented, but appears fatigued and anxious. Upon assessment, the nurse finds the patient is unable to pass stool, and a digital rectal exam reveals fecal impaction. Exhibits Which nursing intervention is the priority at this time?

A. Inserting a Foley catheter addresses the symptom (urinary incontinence), but not the cause. The incontinence may be due to pressure from the fecal mass on the bladder, so relieving the impaction is more appropriate. B. Administering opioids would worsen the constipation and is contraindicated unless the pain is severe and unrelieved by other methods. C. Manual removal is the immediate priority because the patient has confirmed fecal impaction, which can cause further complications such as bowel obstruction, increased discomfort, and worsening incontinence. D. Encouraging fluids and ambulation is appropriate for prevention or mild constipation but not effective once impaction has occurred.