Which assessment would be most critical in a patient receiving a beta-blocker?

Monitoring heart rate in a patient receiving a beta-blocker is essential because these medications work primarily by blocking the effects of the hormone epinephrine, which decreases heart rate and contractility. Beta-blockers are often prescribed for conditions such as hypertension, heart failure, and certain types of arrhythmias, where it is important to have a controlled heart rate.

Assessing heart rate helps ensure that the patient is not experiencing bradycardia (an excessively low heart rate), which can occur as a side effect of beta-blocker therapy. This allows healthcare providers to intervene promptly if the heart rate drops too low, ensuring the patient's safety and maintaining adequate cardiac output.

While monitoring blood glucose levels, temperature, and skin integrity are important in certain contexts, they do not have the same direct relationship to the primary effects and potential complications associated with beta-blocker therapy. Thus, heart rate assessment is the most critical in this scenario.