The nurse admits a patient to the emergency department with new onset of slurred speech and right-sided weakness. What is the priority nursing action?

A. Determine the time of symptom onset: Establishing the exact time symptoms began is critical for stroke management, particularly to determine eligibility for thrombolytic therapy. Rapid intervention depends on accurate timing to maximize benefits and minimize risks. B. Assess for the presence of headache: While headache may provide additional clinical information, it does not take priority over determining symptom onset, which directly guides treatment decisions in acute stroke. C. Determine the patient's drug allergies: Identifying allergies is important before administering medications, but initial priority focuses on interventions that directly affect neurological outcomes and eligibility for acute therapies. D. Assess the patient's orientation: Orientation assessment helps gauge neurological status but is secondary to establishing the timeline for intervention. Immediate treatment decisions are guided by onset and type of neurological deficits.