A nurse is caring for a client who is being admitted for an acute exacerbation of Ulcerative Colitis. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

A. Investigate the client's emotional concerns: Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that can significantly affect psychosocial well-being. Addressing emotional concerns is important. However, during an acute exacerbation, physiologic instability and complications such as dehydration or electrolyte imbalance take priority over psychosocial assessment. B. Check the client's perianal skin integrity: Frequent bloody diarrhea during an exacerbation increases the risk of skin breakdown and irritation in the perianal area. Assessment of skin integrity is an important nursing intervention to prevent secondary complications. Nevertheless, this is not the immediate priority when compared to potential systemic imbalances. C. Review the client's electrolyte values: Acute exacerbations of ulcerative colitis often involve profuse diarrhea, which can lead to significant losses of sodium, potassium, and bicarbonate. Electrolyte imbalances may result in dehydration, metabolic acidosis, cardiac dysrhythmias, or hypotension. Evaluating laboratory values allows the nurse to identify life-threatening disturbances and initiate prompt corrective measures. D. Obtain a dietary history from the client: Nutritional assessment is essential in managing ulcerative colitis, particularly to identify trigger foods and prevent malnutrition. However, dietary history is not the immediate priority during an acute flare when fluid and electrolyte stability must be ensured first. Stabilization precedes detailed nutritional evaluation.