A nurse is caring for a patient who has undergone surgery and is in the postoperative phase. The nurse observes that the patient is experiencing elevated blood pressure, increased heart rate, and reports of severe pain. Which of the following priorities should the nurse address first?

Postoperative patients often experience sympathetic nervous system activation due to acute pain, leading to increased catecholamine release, which causes tachycardia, hypertension, increased myocardial oxygen demand, and potential complications such as myocardial strain, impaired wound healing, and reduced respiratory efficiency due to shallow breathing. Rationale: A. Administering pain medication addresses the primary cause of sympathetic stimulation in this scenario. Effective analgesia reduces catecholamine surge, lowers blood pressure and heart rate, and improves overall physiological stability. This is the most immediate intervention to control the underlying trigger of the abnormal vital signs. B. Encouraging deep breathing exercises supports lung expansion and prevents atelectasis but does not address acute hemodynamic instability caused by severe pain. While important in postoperative care, it is not the priority in the presence of uncontrolled pain and vital sign elevation. C. Obtaining vital signs may provide further data but is unnecessary because abnormal readings are already known. The priority is to treat the cause of instability rather than repeatedly reassessing it without intervention. This delays definitive care. D. Contacting the healthcare provider may be appropriate if the patient does not respond to initial interventions, but immediate nursing action is required first. Escalation without addressing severe pain first may prolong sympathetic stress and worsen the patient’s condition.