A nurse in an emergency room is caring for a client who sustained deep partial-thickness burns to both lower legs, chest, face, and both forearms. Which of the following is the priority action the nurse should take?

A. Administer intravenous pain medication: Pain control is important in burn management, but airway compromise from facial burns must be assessed and addressed first to prevent respiratory failure. B. Insert an indwelling urinary catheter: This is necessary for monitoring fluid status, but it is not more urgent than evaluating for inhalation injuries, which can rapidly become life-threatening. C. Inspect the mouth for signs of inhalation injuries: Burns to the face and chest raise concern for airway involvement. Inspecting for soot, singed nasal hairs, hoarseness, or stridor is critical to identify potential airway obstruction early. D. Draw blood for a complete blood cell (CBC) count: Lab work helps assess systemic impact but does not take priority over ensuring airway patency in the setting of possible inhalation injury.