A nurse is caring for a client who has hypertension and experiences acute epistaxis. What is the sequence of steps the nurse should follow when caring for this client? (Use the ▲▼ arrows to put the steps in order, placing them in the selected order of performance. Use all the steps.)

When managing acute epistaxis, a logical and safe sequence begins with infection control before any direct contact with the client. The first step is to initiate standard precautions, since epistaxis involves exposure to blood and body fluids; the nurse must don gloves and any other required personal protective equipment before touching the client. Once protected, the nurse should tilt the client's head forward — not backward — to prevent blood from flowing down the throat, which could cause aspiration or nausea. Next, apply direct pressure to the nares by pinching the soft tissue of the nose firmly for 10–15 minutes; this is the primary mechanical intervention to stop bleeding. Finally, if bleeding continues, placing ice on the bridge of the nose causes vasoconstriction and helps further reduce hemorrhage. The keyed order lists ice first, which is incorrect because standard precautions must precede any patient contact, head positioning must occur before pressure is applied to prevent aspiration, and ice is an adjunct measure used after direct pressure has been attempted. The corrected sequence is: initiate standard precautions → tilt head forward → apply direct pressure → place ice on the bridge of the nose.