Final answer:
The nurse must attach cardiac monitoring leads before the insertion of a pulmonary artery catheter to monitor the patient's heart rate, rhythm, and electrical activity during the procedure. The Correct Answer is Option. D.
Step-by-step explanation:
When preparing to assist with the insertion of a pulmonary artery catheter, the nurse will need to attach cardiac monitoring leads before the procedure.
This is crucial because it allows the healthcare team to continuously monitor the patient's heart rate, rhythm, and electrical activity during this invasive procedure.
Attaching the monitoring leads is part of a safety checklist and is necessary to quickly identify and respond to any cardiac complications that may arise.