A nurse is caring for a client with myasthenia gravis who is experiencing increased dyspnea and decreased oxygen saturation levels. Which of the following interventions should the nurse prioritize to improve this client's respiratory status?

Rationale: A. While aspiration precautions are important in myasthenia gravis, limiting fluids does not directly improve oxygenation or relieve respiratory distress. Aspiration risk should be addressed with positioning and swallowing interventions, not fluid restriction as the primary response to dyspnea. B. Elevating the head of the bed can support lung expansion, but 15 degrees is insufficient for optimal respiratory mechanics. Positioning alone does not adequately improve ventilation in a client with respiratory muscle weakness from myasthenia gravis. C. Myasthenia gravis can cause weakness of the respiratory muscles, increasing the risk of hypoventilation and respiratory failure. Incentive spirometry encourages deep inspiration, lung expansion, and improved oxygenation, directly addressing the priority problem of decreased oxygen saturation and dyspnea. This intervention supports ventilation and helps prevent complications such as atelectasis. D. Bronchodilators are used for conditions with airway constriction, such as asthma or COPD. In myasthenia gravis, dyspnea is due to muscle weakness, not bronchospasm, so bronchodilators would not address the underlying problem.