You are caring for a 45-year-old patient with acute pancreat…
You are caring for a 45-year-old patient with acute pancreatitis. The patient is NPO and receiving intravenous (IV) fluids due to severe nausea and vomiting. During the most recent assessment, the patient appeared restless, short of breath, and reported severe (“10 out of 10”) upper abdominal pain with radiation to the back. The patient’s current vital signs are:Vital SignValueHeart Rate (HR)116 bpmRespiratory Rate (RR)29 breaths/minBlood Pressure (BP)98/60 mmHgOxygen Saturation (SpO₂)90% on room airWhich of the following nursing actions is the highest priority?