Before assisting a 64-year-old client to the bathroom after antihypertensive administration, what is the priority action for the nurse?

The priority action of assessing orthostatic blood pressure prior to assisting the client to the bathroom is crucial for ensuring patient safety, particularly after administering antihypertensive medication. Antihypertensives can lead to a decrease in blood pressure, especially on standing, which may result in orthostatic hypotension. By assessing the orthostatic blood pressure, the nurse can determine if the client is at risk for dizziness or fainting, enabling them to take appropriate precautions to prevent falls or injury when the client attempts to get up.

Checking if the client has dizziness is important, but it is a secondary assessment that can be influenced by the results of the orthostatic blood pressure readings. Reviewing the client's medication history is beneficial for understanding their overall treatment plan but does not provide immediate safety assessments regarding their current state after antihypertensive administration. Encouraging the client to walk slowly can be helpful, yet it assumes the client is stable enough to begin moving, which cannot be confirmed without first assessing their blood pressure response to standing. Therefore, the assessment of orthostatic blood pressure should be the prioritized step to ensure a safe transition to the bathroom.