Final answer:
The nurse's first action would be to irrigate the affected eye with sterile saline solution when a client arrives in the emergency department with a surface injury caused by sand blowing into the eye.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse's first action would be to irrigate the affected eye with sterile saline solution (option c)
when a client arrives in the emergency department with a surface injury caused by sand blowing into the eye. This is important to remove any foreign particles and help alleviate any discomfort or damage caused by the sand. Once the eye has been irrigated, further assessment and treatment can be conducted if necessary.