A nurse in the labor and delivery unit is reviewing medications for a group of clients. Which of the following medications places the fetus at risk for teratogenic effects?

A. A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who needs guidance on incentive spirometry requires nursing judgment and education to ensure proper technique, so this task is best performed by a nurse.

B. A client who had a myocardial infarction 3 days ago and reports chest discomfort requires assessment and potential intervention by a nurse to address cardiac issues.

C. Assisting a client with toileting typically involves tasks such as transferring, positioning, and providing hygiene assistance, which can be safely delegated to an assistive personnel.

D. Providing a client who has awoken following a bronchoscopy with a drink involves assessing for the absence of nausea or vomiting and ensuring the client can swallow safely, which requires nursing judgment and should be performed by a nurse.

A. Arterial blood gases - Arterial blood gases are not typically assessed before initiating lithium carbonate therapy.

B. Total cholesterol - Total cholesterol levels are not specifically relevant to monitoring lithium therapy.

C. Thyroid hormones - Thyroid function should be assessed before initiating lithium therapy because lithium can affect thyroid function, potentially leading to hypothyroidism.

D. Hemoglobin - While hemoglobin levels may be monitored during lithium therapy, they are not typically assessed prior to initiating treatment.