A nurse in an emergency department is caring for a client who is actively bleeding from a stab wound to the thigh. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A. Tie a tourniquet around the leg distal to the wound: A tourniquet should be placed proximal to the bleeding site to compress major vessels. Placing it distal is ineffective and does not control hemorrhage. B. Apply direct pressure to the wound with thick dressing material: Applying firm, direct pressure is the most effective initial intervention for external bleeding. It helps reduce blood loss by compressing vessels and encouraging clot formation. C. Irrigate the wound with sterile water: Irrigating an actively bleeding wound is inappropriate as it may disrupt forming clots and worsen bleeding. Wound cleaning should be done after bleeding is controlled. D. Apply a transparent dressing to the wound: Transparent dressings are used for clean, non-bleeding wounds. They do not provide the compression or absorption needed for active hemorrhage.