Prioritization of Patient Care

A nurse is caring for multiple patients on a busy medical-surgical unit. The nurse has just received report on the following patients:

Patient A: 45-year-old male with a new diagnosis of hypertension, prescribed medication to start.

Patient B: 60-year-old female with stable angina who is scheduled for a cardiac catheterization later in the day.

Patient C: 72-year-old male who is experiencing shortness of breath and has recently been diagnosed with congestive heart failure.

Patient D: 30-year-old female with a fractured wrist who is requesting pain medication.

Which patient should the nurse assess first based on prioritization of care?