A nurse cares for a client who manifests Ventricular Tachycardia on a cardiac monitor. Which action should the nurse take first?

Rationale: A. While defibrillation may be necessary, it should not be the first action. Immediate assessment determines whether the client is pulseless or unstable, which guides the appropriate intervention. B. Delaying assessment to contact the provider could waste critical time, especially in life-threatening arrhythmias like VT. Nurses must act immediately according to the patient’s condition and protocols. C. The first action in any suspected life-threatening arrhythmia is to assess the patient’s ABCs. This assessment determines hemodynamic stability and guides whether to perform CPR, defibrillation, or prepare for cardioversion, prioritizing patient safety. D. Antiarrhythmic drugs may be indicated after assessment and determination of stability, but they are not the initial intervention. Immediate evaluation of ABCs is required to prevent deterioration.