A nurse is unfamiliar with a medication they are preparing to administer to a client. Prior to administering the medication, the nurse should refer to which of the following resources?

A. Evaluate the need for the client to remain in mitten restraints. Assessing the necessity of restraints is a nursing responsibility that requires clinical judgment. Nurses must evaluate the client's condition and determine if restraints can be discontinued or if alternative measures are appropriate.
B. Assist the client with range-of-motion exercises of the hands. Assistive personnel (AP) can perform tasks that promote mobility, such as passive or active range-of-motion exercises. These exercises help prevent stiffness and maintain circulation in restrained extremities.
C. Determine the circulation status of the affected extremities every 2 hr. Assessing circulation involves evaluating capillary refill, skin color, temperature, and sensation, which requires nursing assessment skills. This task should be performed by a nurse rather than delegated to an AP.
D. Instruct the client's family about the purpose of mitten restraints. Educating the family on medical interventions falls within the nurse’s scope of practice. The nurse must explain the rationale, risks, and alternatives to ensure family members understand the need for restraints.

A. "Request that the nurses show their nursing license prior to removing your newborn from the room." While it's important to ensure that only authorized personnel handle the newborn, asking for nursing licenses is not practical and may not be feasible in a busy clinical environment. Instead, parents should be encouraged to verify the identity of staff based on hospital protocols.
B. "Leave your newborn in the bassinet in your room while you use the bathroom." Leaving the newborn unattended, even in the bassinet, is not advisable. Parents should take their newborn with them if possible or ask for help from staff to ensure the baby's safety while they are away.
C. "Alert the staff if any of your newborn's identification bands are missing." Alerting staff about missing identification bands is crucial for the safety of the newborn. Identification bands help prevent abductions and ensure that the correct infant is returned to the right mother. Parents should be vigilant and report any issues immediately.
D. "Carry your newborn back to the nursery in your arms when you need to rest." Carrying the newborn back to the nursery is not recommended for safety reasons. If the parent needs to rest, they should ask the staff to take the baby to the nursery instead, allowing for proper handling and minimizing the risk of falls or accidents.