A nurse finds a client on the floor next to the bed. After ensuring the client's immediate safety and assessing for injury, what is the next priority action?

Post-fall protocol:

Sequence: (1) Ensure immediate safety; assess for injury (don't move if spinal injury suspected); assess level of consciousness, vital signs, pain, range of motion, any deformity; (2) Provide necessary care/stabilization; (3) Notify the RN and provider; (4) Document OBJECTIVE findings in the medical record (what you found, the client's condition, actions taken, who was notified) — factually, without speculation about cause or blame; (5) Complete an INCIDENT REPORT (occurrence/variance report) separately — this is an internal quality/risk management document.

Key point: The incident report is NOT part of the medical record and should NOT be referenced in the chart ('incident report completed' should NOT be charted) — they are kept separate for legal reasons; documentation should be factual and objective.

Fall assessment: Reassess fall risk; implement additional precautions; LPN role: ensure safety, assess, notify, document objectively, complete incident report per facility policy.