Following a cardiac catheterization, which nursing action is the priority?

After cardiac catheterization, the most serious and time-sensitive complication is vascular compromise at the arterial access site, which is typically the femoral or radial artery. The priority nursing assessment is to check the temperature, color, capillary refill, sensation, movement, and pulses of the affected extremity distal to the puncture site. Diminished pulse, pallor, coolness, or numbness indicates arterial occlusion or hematoma formation compressing the vessel, requiring immediate intervention. Monitoring the neurovascular status of the extremity is the highest priority because arterial compromise can lead to limb ischemia within minutes. Encouraging the client to ambulate is contraindicated immediately after a femoral approach procedure; the client must maintain bed rest with the affected limb straight for several hours to allow hemostasis. Providing a high-protein meal, while supportive of healing, is not a priority nursing action in the immediate post-procedure period. Administering pain medication is appropriate if the client reports pain, but it is not the first priority; neurovascular checks must be performed first to rule out a vascular complication that may be manifesting as pain or discomfort in the extremity. Safety and the detection of limb-threatening complications always take precedence over comfort measures.