Prioritizing Safety in Severe Anxiety Presentation

A 32-year-old female client with a history of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) presents to the emergency department with complaints of severe anxiety, palpitations, and a sense of impending doom. She states that she has missed work for several days due to her anxiety and has been experiencing insomnia. The client reports using alcohol to cope with her anxiety but denies illicit drug use. Given this presentation and her history, which intervention should the nurse prioritize during the initial assessment?