A nurse in an emergency department is creating a plan of care for a client who reports experiencing intimate partner violence. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include as the priority?

Introduction: Intimate partner violence (IPV) necessitates immediate lethality assessment and the establishment of physical safety to prevent further physical harm or potential homicide by the abuser. A. Helping the client devise a safety plan is the priority intervention because it addresses the immediate threat to life. A safety plan includes identifying signs of escalating danger, preparing an emergency bag with essential documents, and establishing a predetermined safe location, ensuring the client has a viable escape route. B. Referring the client to a support group is an important secondary intervention for long-term emotional recovery and peer validation. However, in the acute emergency department setting, psychological support must follow the establishment of physical safety, as a support group does not protect the client from immediate physical assault or lethality. C. Following facility protocol for reporting is a legal and administrative requirement, but it does not take precedence over the client's immediate physical safety. Reporting requirements vary by jurisdiction for competent adults, and the nurse's first clinical responsibility is to empower the client with a functional plan for survival. D. Teaching stress-reduction techniques provides the client with coping mechanisms to manage the psychological toll of trauma and anxiety. While beneficial for mental health stabilization, these techniques are ineffective at preventing physical violence and must be deferred until the client is no longer in a high-risk, life-threatening environment.