Final answer:
The nurse should first assess bleeding at the biopsy site after a client with Hodgkin's disease undergoes an excisional cervical lymph node biopsy.
Step-by-step explanation:
After a client with Hodgkin's disease undergoes an excisional cervical lymph node biopsy under local anesthesia, the nurse should assess bleeding at the biopsy site first. This immediate post-procedural assessment is crucial since the cervical region has a rich blood supply, and even minor procedures can sometimes lead to bleeding. The nurse's prompt evaluation and intervention are essential to prevent complications.
While the respiratory rate is also important to monitor, especially if sedation was used during the procedure, the risk of airway compromise due to bleeding is higher directly post-biopsy. Monitoring blood pressure and temperature are subsequent assessments that can indicate other complications such as a hematoma or infection, but they are not as immediately life-threatening as hemorrhage.