The nurse is caring for a client with a medical history of peripheral artery disease, hypertension, and smoking. The client reports severe pain in the right lower leg that started very suddenly and did not get better after receiving an analgesic. What action should the nurse take first?
a. Check the client's pedal pulse.
b. Offer the client an ice pack for the pain.
c. Administer an additional dose of the analgesic.
d. Notify the health care provider.