Describe the priority nursing action for a patient experiencing an asthma attack.

During an asthma attack, the primary goal is to quickly relieve bronchoconstriction and restore adequate airflow. Administering a rescue inhaler or prescribed bronchodilator is essential in this situation, as these medications work rapidly to relax the muscles around the airways, facilitating easier breathing. Rescue inhalers typically contain short-acting beta agonists, which act quickly to alleviate symptoms during an asthma exacerbation.

While monitoring vital signs, encouraging fluid intake, and administering corticosteroids are important components of asthma management and overall patient care, they are not as immediate or critical during an acute attack. Monitoring vital signs provides valuable data about the patient's status but does not address the urgent need to open the airways. Encouraging fluid intake is beneficial for hydration but does not have a direct impact on alleviating the respiratory distress caused by an asthma attack. Oral corticosteroids are typically used for controlling inflammation over a longer period and are not meant for acute relief, making them less appropriate as a first-line action during an asthma emergency. Thus, administering a rescue inhaler or bronchodilator is the priority nursing action in this scenario.