The IV infusion pump for a patient receiving an IV therapy begins to alarm and displays occlusion. When the silence button is pushed, the alarm quickly resumes. Which action should the nurse take first?

A. Flushing with heparin or decreasing the rate may be appropriate after ruling out mechanical causes, but intervening before assessing the line could cause complications. B. The first action should always be to assess the IV system for mechanical issues such as kinks in the tubing, a closed clamp, or an occluded connection. Resolving these issues often clears the occlusion alarm without further intervention. C. Notifying the physician is not the immediate priority; the nurse should first determine whether the occlusion is mechanical and correctable at the bedside. D. Turning off the IV and flushing the line may be necessary if the occlusion persists, but this step comes after checking for simple mechanical causes.