Final answer:
The priority client for the nurse is the one showing sudden signs of confusion and weakness on one side, indicative of stroke complications. Other clients have less urgent needs, ranging from routine post-operative care to mild hypoglycemia and a potential mild allergic reaction.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nurse on a medical-surgical unit is caring for four clients. Among the clients mentioned, the nurse should recognize the client with a recent history of stroke showing sudden signs of confusion and weakness on one side as the priority. This is due to the fact that sudden changes in mental status and physical functioning could indicate a serious progression in their condition, potentially signaling a new stroke or complications from the previous one, hence it requires immediate assessment and intervention.
A client who has undergone elective knee surgery and requires a dressing change, although important, does not present an immediate life-threatening situation. The client with controlled diabetes experiencing a mild episode of hypoglycemia can often be managed with oral carbohydrates like glucose tablets or juice and subsequent monitoring, making it less urgent than the stroke symptoms. Lastly, the client on IV antibiotics complaining of mild itching at the IV site could be experiencing the beginning of an allergic reaction, but as long as it's mild, it's not as urgent as the stroke symptoms.