A nurse is caring for a client who has bipolar disorder and has been taking lithium for 1 year. Before administering the medication, the nurse should check to see that which of the following tests have been completed?

A. Bleeding: While haloperidol can cause side effects such as orthostatic hypotension and sedation, it is not typically associated with bleeding as a common adverse effect.

B. Pancreatitis: Pancreatitis is not a common adverse effect of haloperidol. However, it can cause gastrointestinal side effects such as constipation, nausea, and vomiting.

C. Cataracts: Haloperidol is not known to cause cataracts. However, long-term use of antipsychotic medications, including haloperidol, may increase the risk of developing metabolic side effects such as weight gain, dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia, which can contribute to conditions like diabetes and potentially increase the risk of cataracts.

D. Dysrhythmias: Haloperidol can prolong the QT interval on an electrocardiogram (ECG), leading to an increased risk of dysrhythmias, including torsades de pointes. This risk is particularly important in clients with preexisting cardiovascular conditions or those taking other medications that can prolong the QT interval. Therefore, nurses should monitor clients receiving haloperidol for signs of dysrhythmias, including palpitations, dizziness, and syncope, and promptly report any abnormalities to the healthcare provider.

A. Give the medication: Administering expired medication poses potential risks to the client's safety and efficacy of treatment. Therefore, giving the medication is not appropriate.

B. Discard the medication: Expired medications may have decreased potency or even become harmful due to chemical changes over time. It is essential to discard expired medications to ensure client safety and maintain the effectiveness of treatment.

C. Notify the provider: While it's important to communicate issues related to medication administration to the healthcare provider, in this case, the expired medication should not be used regardless of provider notification.

D. Return the medication to the pharmacy: Returning expired medication to the pharmacy might be appropriate in some settings, but it is not the primary action to take in this situation. The priority is to ensure the client does not receive expired medication.