An adult male client is admitted to the emergency department (ED) while vomiting dark brown, foul smelling emesis. He reports having a surgical repair of a recurrent inguinal hernia a week ago and is troubled by intense abdominal pain. After finding that his bowel sounds are hyperactive, which prescription should the nurse implement first?

Rationale: A. Place an indwelling urinary catheter and attach a bedside drainage unit: Urinary catheterization may be needed for monitoring output or urinary retention, but it does not address the client’s acute gastrointestinal symptoms. B. Give a prescribed analgesic for temperature above 101° F (38.3° C) orally: Pain management is important, but giving oral medication is unsafe in a client with persistent vomiting and possible bowel obstruction, as it may not be absorbed and could worsen nausea. C. Insert a nasogastric tube (NGT) and attach to low intermittent suction (LIS): The client’s symptoms, and recent abdominal surgery suggest a possible postoperative bowel obstruction. Inserting an NGT provides immediate decompression of the stomach, relieves nausea, prevents aspiration, and stabilizes the client before further therapeutic interventions. D. Send the client to x-ray for a flat plate of the abdomen: Imaging is necessary for diagnosis, but immediate intervention to manage vomiting and prevent complications should take priority over diagnostic testing.