The nurse is preparing to obtain a rapid coronavirus (COVID-19) test for a client who was exposed to the virus eight days ago. The client is experiencing fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Which action is most important for the nurse to take?

A: Notifying the charge nurse is important but secondary to immediately donning appropriate PPE for direct patient care. B: Explaining the client’s exposure is helpful, but it does not prioritize the nurse’s own safety and infection control. C: Wearing full PPE, including an N95 mask, is essential for protecting the nurse and others from COVID-19 transmission, especially with a symptomatic client who may be contagious. D: Teaching the client about prevention is important but not the immediate priority when entering a potentially infectious environment.