Final answer:
The first action to meet the priority need of a newborn is to dry the infant immediately, as it stimulates breathing and aids in temperature regulation.
Step-by-step explanation:
After the delivery of a newborn, the nurse's priority is to ensure the baby's immediate adaptation to the external environment, focusing on the respiratory and thermoregulatory needs. The first action to meet the priority need of the newborn is to dry the infant immediately (c). This is because drying the baby helps stimulate breathing and prevents heat loss, which is crucial for maintaining the baby's body temperature. Following this, the nurse can then clear any residual mucus from the baby's mouth and nose to ensure clear airways for breathing. As the newborn's lungs take over the task of the placenta in gas exchange, it's essential they can do so effectively.
The umbilical cord is cut shortly after birth, which leads to a series of physiological changes as the baby acclimatizes to life outside the womb. With the cord cut, the newborn must begin to breathe on their own to take in oxygen and expel carbon dioxide, a process that is supported by drying the infant and suctioning the nose and mouth if necessary.