What intervention should a nurse anticipate for a patient with ARDS exhibiting tachypnea?

In a patient with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) exhibiting tachypnea, it is critical to address the patient's compromised respiratory status promptly. The presence of tachypnea indicates that the patient is struggling to maintain adequate oxygenation and ventilation. Given this urgency, calling for an emergency team for rapid intubation is an appropriate intervention, as it allows for immediate airway management and ensures that the patient receives adequate mechanical ventilation.

Intubation in the setting of ARDS can improve oxygen delivery and assist in controlling the patient's respiratory rate and effort, which are often severely impaired. This provides respiratory support while addressing the underlying causes of ARDS. Timely intervention is essential, as delayed intubation in a patient with significant respiratory distress can lead to further complications, including respiratory failure.

The other choices may provide some supportive care but do not address the immediate need for airway protection and ventilation in a patient displaying signs of severe respiratory distress. For example, a chest X-ray may provide diagnostic information, increasing the oxygen flow rate may be beneficial to some extent, and administering sedatives could help reduce anxiety, but these actions do not directly stabilize the patient's airway or ensure adequate ventilation, which is paramount in this scenario.