A nurse is planning care for a client who is 8 hr postoperative following a coronary artery bypass grafting. Which of the following assessments should the nurse plan to perform first?

Rationale: A. Examine the surgical incision for drainage: While it is important to monitor the surgical site for any signs of infection or drainage, assessing the client's respiratory status takes precedence. Ensuring proper breathing and oxygenation is critical immediately post surgery. B. Auscultate breath sounds: Auscultating breath sounds should be the first priority. Respiratory complications like atelectasis or pneumonia are common after cardiac surgery, and it is crucial to assess for adequate ventilation and oxygenation in the early postoperative period. C. Measure the client's core body temperature: Although monitoring body temperature is necessary, fever in the early postoperative period can be common. The priority is to evaluate the client's respiratory and circulatory stability. D. Palpate pulses distal to the graft donor site: Checking pulses distal to the graft donor site is important for circulation monitoring, but it should not be the first assessment. Ensuring respiratory function is more urgent in the first 8 hours after CABG surgery.