An emergency nurse is caring for a premature newborn who is exhibiting signs of severe respiratory distress including tachypnea, nasal flaring, and grunting. Which treatment is most immediately appropriate for suspected neonatal respiratory distress syndrome?
Aggressive fluid resuscitation with normal saline
Initiation of exogenous surfactant therapy
Immediate intubation and mechanical ventilation with high tidal volumes
Administration of high-flow nasal cannula oxygen at 10 L/min