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

A. Auscultate breath sounds: Assessing breath sounds is the priority because postoperative cardiac clients are at risk for atelectasis, fluid accumulation, and respiratory compromise within the first hours after surgery. Early identification of decreased or absent breath sounds allows rapid intervention to maintain adequate oxygenation and prevent complications. B. Examine the surgical incision for drainage: Inspecting the incision is important for monitoring bleeding or infection, but it is not the first priority within 1 hour postoperatively. Immediate postoperative priorities focus on airway and breathing before evaluating surgical sites, which can be assessed once respiratory stability is confirmed. C. Palpate pulses distal to the graft donor site: Assessing peripheral perfusion is necessary to detect circulatory impairment after graft harvest, but this becomes a priority after airway and breathing have been evaluated. Ensuring adequate oxygenation takes precedence over extremity vascular assessment in the immediate postoperative period. D. Measure the client's core body temperature: Temperature monitoring is required postoperatively, especially after cardiac surgery due to the risk of hypothermia, but it is not the first assessment needed. Respiratory evaluation and ensuring airway stability must occur before temperature or other secondary assessments.