What is the priority action for a nurse caring for a client with carbon monoxide poisoning?

Administering high-flow oxygen is the priority action for a client with carbon monoxide poisoning because it is essential for displacing carbon monoxide from hemoglobin and restoring the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. Carbon monoxide binds with hemoglobin more readily than oxygen, forming carboxyhemoglobin, which drastically reduces the amount of oxygen available to tissues. By providing high-flow oxygen, you enhance the elimination of carbon monoxide from the body, thereby alleviating hypoxia and mitigating potential neurological and organ damage.

While continuous pulse oximetry monitoring can help assess the effectiveness of treatment and the client's oxygen saturation levels, it does not directly address the immediate need to treat carbon monoxide exposure. Inserting a peripheral vascular access device might be necessary later for medication administration or fluid therapy but does not directly affect the treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning. Obtaining a 12-lead ECG can be important if cardiac issues are suspected but is not the immediate priority in a life-threatening scenario like carbon monoxide exposure, where oxygen therapy is critical for survival and recovery.