Final answer:
A client with moderate persistent asthma should administer a bronchodilator first for immediate relief during an asthma flare-up, as it quickly opens up the air passages.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct medication that a client with moderate persistent asthma should administer first is a bronchodilator. Bronchodilators are fast-acting medications that quickly open up constricted air passages in the lungs, making breathing easier for the individual.
They are considered the first line of treatment during an asthma flare-up because they provide immediate relief from symptoms by soothing the constricted airways and helping them re-expand.
Long-term control medications, such as corticosteroids, mast cell stabilizers, anticholinergics, and glucocorticoids, are used to manage the chronic aspects of asthma and prevent future attacks.
However, when it comes to immediate relief during an asthma attack, it is the bronchodilator that should be administered first. By doing so, the airways are opened, and this allows for other medications to be more effective if needed thereafter.