A female client is taking alendronate, a bisphosphonate, for postmenopausal osteoporosis. The client tells the nurse that she is experiencing jaw pain. How should the nurse respond?

A. Advise the client to gargle with warm salt water twice daily: Gargling may temporarily soothe oral discomfort, but it does not address the underlying concern and delays evaluation of a potentially serious adverse effect. B. Confirm that this is a common symptom of osteoporosis: Jaw pain is not a recognized symptom of osteoporosis; it may indicate a serious complication such as osteonecrosis of the jaw, especially in clients taking bisphosphonates like alendronate. C. Determine how the client is administering the medication: Although proper administration (e.g., upright position, with water) is important to reduce esophageal irritation, jaw pain is unrelated to administration technique and more likely reflects a systemic adverse effect. D. Report the client's jaw pain to the healthcare provider: Jaw pain in clients taking bisphosphonates may indicate osteonecrosis of the jaw, a rare but serious complication that requires prompt evaluation and possible discontinuation of the drug.