A nurse is assessing a child who is 2 hr postoperative following a cardiac catheterization and finds the dressing is saturated with blood. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

A. Reinforcing the dressing is not sufficient to control bleeding. Pressure needs to be applied directly. B. Vital signs are important to monitor, but stopping the bleeding is the priority action first. C. Applying pressure just above the insertion site is the first action to control bleeding after a cardiac catheterization. Immediate pressure helps to stop the bleeding before further actions are taken. D. Monitoring the pulse distal to the insertion site is important to assess circulation, but controlling the bleeding comes first.