While Caring for a Patient with Pneumonia, a Nurse Notes

While caring for a patient with pneumonia, a nurse notes that the patient's sputum is greenish and very thick. The highest priority in the patient's plan of care is to

A) Encourage the use of the incentive spirometer.
B) Provide pain medication every 4 hours as ordered.
C) Provide a bedside commode.
D) Encourage the patient to increase oral intake.