The nurse is monitoring a blood transfusion for a client with anemia. five minutes after the transfusion begins, the client reports feeling short of breath and itchy. what is the priority nursing action

Stop the transfusion.

Whenever a transfusion reaction is suspected or identified, the first step of the nurse is to stop the transfusion, by limiting the amount of blood to which the client is exposed. There is no other option whatever happens transfusion should be stopped.

Life-threatening transfusion reactions generally happens within the first 5 to 15 minutes of the infusion, so the nurse or someone designated by the nurse usually remains with the client during this critical time.