A trauma client with multiple open wounds is brought to the emergency department in cardiac arrest. Which action should the nurse take prior to providing advanced cardiac life support?

Rationale: A. This is not the immediate priority. While surgical consultation may be necessary later for trauma care, the client is in cardiac arrest, and immediate life-saving interventions take precedence. B. Personal protective equipment (PPE) protects healthcare providers from exposure to bloodborne pathogens and other infectious materials, which is crucial before performing high-risk procedures such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a patient with multiple open wounds. Ensuring provider safety allows effective and uninterrupted resuscitation. C. Gathering history is important for trauma assessment, but it is secondary to initiating life-saving interventions. In cardiac arrest, immediate resuscitation (ACLS) must begin while brief relevant information is obtained concurrently if possible. D. In the emergency department, the patient is already under emergency care. Rapid Response Teams are typically used in inpatient units to respond to acute deterioration. For a patient in cardiac arrest in the ED, immediate initiation of ACLS protocols is the priority over notification.