A nurse is caring for a 13-year-old adolescent in the pediatric emergency room who has a suspected head injury. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

A. Collect data on physical examination. The first priority in managing a suspected head injury is assessing the adolescent's neurological status, airway, breathing, circulation, and level of consciousness. A physical examination helps determine the severity of the injury and guides further interventions. B. Administer pain medication to the adolescent. While pain management is important, administering medication before assessing neurological status could mask symptoms of worsening intracranial pressure, making it difficult to monitor changes in the adolescent’s condition. C. Notify the adolescent's primary care provider. Informing the provider is necessary, but it should be done after an initial assessment to provide accurate information about the adolescent’s condition and guide appropriate interventions. D. Collect a detailed past medical history. While medical history is valuable, it is not the immediate priority in an emergency. The primary concern is assessing the adolescent’s current condition to determine if there are signs of increased intracranial pressure or other serious complications.