A nurse is assisting with the care of a toddler who has a septal defect and is scheduled for a cardiac catheterization. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A. Administer meperidine for pain immediately following the procedure: Meperidine is not typically recommended for pediatric pain management due to the risk of seizures from its toxic metabolite, normeperidine. Safer analgesic options like acetaminophen are preferred. B. Determine if the toddler has an allergy to iodine prior to the procedure: Cardiac catheterization often involves the use of iodine-based contrast dye. Identifying an iodine or shellfish allergy is crucial to prevent allergic reactions, which can range from mild to life-threatening. C. Give the toddler clear liquids prior to the procedure: Toddlers undergoing sedation or anesthesia for procedures like cardiac catheterization are usually kept NPO (nothing by mouth) for a set period before the procedure to reduce aspiration risk. D. Check the toddler's vital signs once each hour following the procedure: Vital signs should be monitored more frequently than once per hour immediately post-procedure. Typically, checks occur every 15 minutes initially, then gradually spaced out, to quickly detect complications such as bleeding or arrhythmia.