A nurse is performing a preadministration assessment of a client who is to receive an opioid analgesic. Which preadministration activity should the nurse prioritize?

A. Document description of pain and an estimate of when the pain began: Pain assessment is the priority before administering an opioid. Understanding the location, quality, intensity, and duration of pain ensures the medication is appropriate and helps evaluate its effectiveness after administration. B. Obtain client's blood pressure and pulse within 5 to 10 minutes: While monitoring vital signs is important, especially for opioids that can depress cardiovascular and respiratory function, it is not the top priority over assessing the reason the opioid is being given. C. Monitor the client for tachycardia: Tachycardia may occur in response to pain or anxiety, but opioids more commonly cause bradycardia. Monitoring for side effects is important but follows a thorough pain and baseline assessment. D. Record each bowel movement and its appearance, color, and consistency: Opioids can cause constipation, so bowel monitoring is important during ongoing therapy. However, it is not the nurse’s initial priority before administering a dose of opioid analgesic