A home health nurse is completing an admission on a client who recently experienced a transient ischemic attack (TIA). During the assessment, the client begins to report a severe headache and numbness in the left arm. Which action should the nurse take initially?

A. Give the client a dose of acetaminophen: While acetaminophen can relieve mild headache, it does not address the urgent risk of stroke. Treating pain without evaluating for a cerebrovascular event could delay critical care. B. Call 9-1-1: Sudden severe headache and new-onset numbness after a TIA may indicate progression to an acute stroke. Prompt emergency intervention is essential to prevent permanent neurological damage and improve outcomes. C. Determine if the client has a history of migraine headaches: While a history of migraines may provide context, the acute presentation of neurological deficits cannot be assumed to be a migraine. Immediate action takes priority over history-taking. D. Assure the client the symptoms will resolve within 24 hours: Providing reassurance without medical evaluation is unsafe. The client’s symptoms could indicate a serious cerebrovascular event requiring urgent intervention rather than waiting for spontaneous resolution.