A nurse is planning to administer medications to an older adult client who has dysphagia. Which of the following actions should the nurse plan to take?

Choice A Reason:
Identify the client using two identifiers is correct. Prior to administering any medication, especially controlled substances, it's crucial to confirm the client's identity using two unique identifiers, such as their name and date of birth or an identification band and verbal confirmation. Ensuring accurate identification helps prevent medication errors and ensures the right medication is given to the right patient.
Choice B Reason:
Compare the amount of medication available to the inventory record is incorrect. This is part of maintaining accurate documentation and inventory control, ensuring that the amount of medication matches the recorded inventory. However, it typically occurs after confirming the client's identity.
Choice C Reason:
Document the administration of the medication is incorrect. Documentation of medication administration is crucial for legal and medical purposes but should occur after the medication has been safely administered to the correct patient.
Choice D Reason:
Remove the medication from the medication dispensing cabinet is incorrect. Retrieving the medication from the dispensing cabinet is an essential step in the administration process, but it should occur after confirming the client's identity to ensure the right medication is administered to the right individual.

Choice A Reason:
Using the applicator paper is appropriate for measuring the dosage accurately, but simply measuring the dosage is not the only step; the medication needs to be spread over the specified area of the skin.
Choice B Reason:
Spread the medication over a 12.7 cm (5 in) area of the client's skin. Nitroglycerin ointment is typically measured using a specific paper or measuring tape provided with the medication to ensure accurate dosing. The ointment is spread thinly and evenly over a specific measured area of the skin, usually about 12.7 cm (5 inches) in length, to maintain consistent dosing.
Choice C Reason:
Covering the medication with a sterile gauze pad is not typically done with nitroglycerin ointment. The ointment is meant to be absorbed through the skin, and covering it may interfere with its absorption.
Choice D Reason:
Nitroglycerin ointment is often applied to different sites to prevent skin irritation and tolerance from developing at one site. It's usually rotated to different clean areas of the skin to prevent skin irritation and tolerance buildup. Applying it to the same site for three consecutive days is not standard practice.