A nurse in the emergency department is receiving report on a group of clients. Which of the following clients should the nurse assess first?

A) A client who has orthostatic hypotension and 4+ pitting edema in the lower extremities: While this client requires assessment, their condition is not immediately life-threatening. Orthostatic hypotension and edema need to be evaluated, but they are not acute emergencies. B) A client who has Clostridium difficile and a temperature of 38.6° C (101.5° F): This client needs attention due to the infection and fever, but it is not as critical as the potential cardiac event presented in option C. C) A client who has left shoulder pain and S-T elevation on a 12-lead ECG: This client is exhibiting signs that may indicate an acute myocardial infarction (heart attack). S-T elevation on an ECG is a significant finding and suggests that this client could be experiencing a serious cardiac event, making it the priority for assessment. D) A client who has a complete femur fracture and reports a pain level of 7 on a scale from 0 to 10: While this client is in pain and requires care, the priority in emergency situations is often given to conditions that are life-threatening, such as those related to cardiac function. Therefore, this client can be assessed after addressing the potential cardiac emergency.