After an older client receives treatment for drug toxicity, the healthcare provider prescribes a 24-hour creatinine clearance test. Prior to starting the urine collection, the nurse notes that the client's serum creatinine is 0.3 mg/dL (22.9 μmol/L). Which action should the nurse implement?
Creatinine [Reference Range: 0.5 to 1.1 mg/dL (44 to 97 μmol/L)]

It is important to assess the child's vital signs, including oxygen saturation (SaO2), to ensure their stability and identify any signs of respiratory distress or other abnormalities that may impact medication administration.

Prior to administering any medication, it is crucial to verify if the child has any known allergies to medications. This information is essential for ensuring the safety of the child and preventing any potential allergic reactions.

Before administering pain medication, the nurse must verify that the prescribed dosage is appropriate for the child's age, weight, and condition. Ensuring the correct dosage helps prevent medication errors and potential adverse effects.

It is important to use a validated pain assessment tool that is appropriate for the child's age and cognitive abilities. This allows for a comprehensive and accurate assessment of the child's pain level, helping guide appropriate pain management interventions.

Considering the child has cognitive and speech delays, the input from the parent regarding the child's pain is valuable. The nurse should assess and consider the parent's report of the child's pain in conjunction with other assessment findings to ensure effective pain management.

Subjective pain assessment is mentioned as a finding but may not require immediate action, as it needs to be combined with other assessment data for a comprehensive evaluation.

In this scenario, the client's sudden onset of feeling apprehensive, restlessness, and increased body temperature are consistent with symptoms of a thyroid crisis, also known as thyroid storm or thyrotoxic crisis. Thyroid crisis is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical intervention.

Initiating IV access is crucial to ensure the prompt administration of medications and fluids to manage the thyroid crisis effectively. IV access allows for the administration of beta-blockers, antithyroid drugs, and supportive care, which are essential components of the treatment for thyroid crisis. IV access also provides a route for fluid resuscitation if necessary.

Accessing laboratory results to confirm a thyroid crisis is important, but the clinical presentation of the client with sudden onset symptoms and a known history of uncontrolled hyperthyroidism suggests the need for immediate intervention rather than waiting for laboratory confirmation.

Obtaining a complete set of vital signs is an important assessment to gather comprehensive data, but in the case of a suspected thyroid crisis, immediate intervention takes precedence over obtaining vital signs.

Encouraging relaxation and slow deep breathing may be beneficial in managing anxiety or discomfort, but it does not address the underlying emergency situation of a thyroid crisis. The nurse should focus on initiating appropriate medical interventions first.