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. Irrigate the wound with sterile water: Irrigation may be appropriate after bleeding is controlled, but during active hemorrhage, immediate pressure to control blood loss takes priority over wound cleansing. Delaying hemostasis can lead to hypovolemic shock. B. Tie a tourniquet around the leg distal to the wound: Tourniquets are reserved for life-threatening hemorrhage when direct pressure fails. Improper placement distal to the wound may be ineffective; tourniquet application should be proximal to the injury if used. C. Apply a transparent dressing to the wound: Transparent dressings are not suitable for active, profuse bleeding because they do not provide adequate pressure to control hemorrhage. They are more appropriate for observation of healing wounds. D. Apply direct pressure to the wound with thick dressing material: Direct pressure with sterile or thick dressings is the first-line intervention for controlling active external bleeding. It compresses blood vessels, promotes clot formation, and stabilizes the client until further medical intervention.