A nurse is caring for an 8-year-old child who has acute rheumatic fever. Which of the following assessments is the nurse's priority immediately after admission?

A. Cardiac involvement, such as valvular damage or myocarditis, is the most serious complication of acute rheumatic fever. Assessing heart rate and sounds immediately helps identify life-threatening conditions early. B. While addressing parental anxiety is important, it is not the immediate priority compared with assessing for cardiac complications. C. Evaluating the rash (erythema marginatum) provides information about the disease but does not indicate acute danger. D. Assessing joint pain is important for comfort and mobility, but it is less urgent than evaluating potential cardiac complications.