A patient presents an increased risk for health change. Which nurse's action is critical?

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When a patient presents with an increased risk for health changes, reassessing vital signs is a crucial action for the nurse. Vital signs are key indicators of a patient's physiological status and can provide immediate information about changes in their condition. They help in detecting issues such as hypotension, tachycardia, fever, or abnormalities in respiratory function.

Prompt reassessment of vital signs allows the healthcare team to identify potential complications early, which is critical for timely intervention. This can be especially important in monitoring for deterioration in a patient's condition or response to treatment. By maintaining vigilant oversight of these essential metrics, the nurse can ensure that appropriate actions are taken as needed.

The other options, while potentially important in their respective contexts, do not address the immediate need for assessment of the patient's current health status in this situation. Offering nutrition is supportive but does not directly assess health changes. Discussing with social services may be relevant for long-term care planning but doesn’t provide immediate insights into the patient's health status. Documenting observations is important for record-keeping and continuity of care, yet it follows the need to actively reassess and intervene based on the current state of the patient’s wellbeing.

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