An older adult client with a long history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is admitted with progressive shortness of breath and a persistent cough. The client is anxious and reports a dry mouth. Which intervention should the nurse implement?

A. Assist client to an upright position: Positioning the client upright maximizes lung expansion, improves ventilation, and reduces the work of breathing. This is the most immediate and effective noninvasive intervention to relieve dyspnea in COPD exacerbations. B. Administer a prescribed sedative: Sedatives can depress respiratory drive in COPD clients, worsening hypoventilation and carbon dioxide retention. While anxiety is present, reducing it with sedation is unsafe before stabilizing respiratory function. C. Encourage client to drink water: Hydration helps thin secretions, but this is not the priority in acute dyspnea. The client may also struggle to drink safely while short of breath, making this intervention less urgent at the moment. D. Apply a high-flow venturi mask: Venturi masks are useful for delivering controlled oxygen concentrations in COPD, but oxygen must be carefully titrated. High-flow delivery can suppress hypoxic drive, so positioning should be done first while oxygen administration is adjusted per prescription.