A patient is awaiting surgery.The nurse's best rationale for assessing vital signs is to do which of the following?

A) Assess the patient's anxiety level.
B) Determine the patient's basal temperature.
C) Establish a baseline for vital signs comparisons.
D) Assess for any changes that may indicate infection.

Vital Signs

Biometric measurements (such as temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure) that indicate the state of a person's essential body functions.

Baseline

A reference or starting point used for comparison in order to track changes or progress over time.

Anxiety Level

The degree of unease, worry, or fear a person is experiencing, which can affect their mental and physical health.