A nurse is caring for a client receiving chemotherapy who develops neutropenia (low neutrophil count). What is the priority nursing intervention?

NEUTROPENIA (abnormally low neutrophils, often from chemotherapy) severely weakens the immune system, making INFECTION the major life-threatening risk. The priority is NEUTROPENIC PRECAUTIONS (protective/reverse isolation) to protect the client: strict HAND HYGIENE; avoid crowds and people who are sick; private room (per policy); avoid raw/undercooked foods, fresh flowers, and standing water (sources of organisms); no live plants; meticulous skin/oral care; monitor TEMPERATURE closely. NCLEX physiological/oncology. A FEVER in a neutropenic client is a medical emergency (neutropenic fever/sepsis) — report immediately, as the client may not show typical infection signs (few neutrophils to produce pus/inflammation). Protecting the neutropenic client from infection is a heavily tested NCLEX oncology concept.