A nurse is admitting a new client. Which of the following actions should the nurse take while performing medication reconciliation?

A. Verify the client's name on their identification bracelet with the medication administration record: While confirming the client’s identity is a critical safety step before administering medications, this action is part of the “five rights” of medication administration rather than the medication reconciliation process.

B. Call the pharmacy to determine whether the client's medications are available: Contacting the pharmacy may be necessary for obtaining or refilling prescriptions, but it is not part of the reconciliation process. Medication reconciliation focuses on comparing existing medications with new orders to prevent omissions, duplications, or interactions.

C. Compare the client's home medications with the provider's prescriptions: This is the primary purpose of medication reconciliation. The nurse reviews the client’s current medications, including prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal supplements, and compares them with new provider orders to identify discrepancies, prevent medication errors, and ensure continuity of care.

D. Place the client's home medication bottles in a secure location: Safely storing the client’s home medications is important for preventing misuse or errors, but it is a supportive action rather than part of the reconciliation process. The critical step is analyzing and reconciling the medications to ensure safe and accurate therapy.

A. Bend at the waist: Bending at the waist while lifting places excessive strain on the lumbar spine and increases the risk of back injury. Proper lifting technique requires bending at the knees and hips while keeping the back straight to distribute the weight more safely across the larger leg muscles.

B. Stand close to the cabinet when lifting it: Standing close to the object reduces leverage and minimizes the force on the lower back. Keeping the load near the body maintains balance, improves control, and decreases the risk of musculoskeletal injury, making this a key ergonomic principle for safe lifting.

C. Use the back muscles for lifting: Lifting primarily with the back muscles increases the risk of strain or injury to the lumbar region. Instead, the nurse should engage the strong muscles of the legs and gluteal region to perform the lift safely while keeping the back aligned.

D. Keep the feet close together: Keeping the feet close together reduces stability and balance while lifting. A proper stance requires feet shoulder-width apart to provide a broad base of support, allowing safe weight transfer and reducing the risk of falls or musculoskeletal injury.