A nurse is caring for a patient with pernicious anemia. Which medication is the nurse most likely to expect the doctor to prescribe to treat this condition?

A. Vitamin D supplements: Vitamin D is used to manage bone health and calcium metabolism. It does not address the vitamin B12 deficiency that causes pernicious anemia and is not an appropriate treatment for this condition. B. Vitamin B12 injections: Pernicious anemia results from a deficiency of intrinsic factor, which impairs absorption of vitamin B12. Intramuscular or subcutaneous vitamin B12 injections bypass the gastrointestinal tract, correcting the deficiency and preventing complications such as neuropathy and megaloblastic anemia. C. Iron supplements: Iron supplementation treats iron-deficiency anemia but is ineffective in pernicious anemia, which is caused by vitamin B12 deficiency rather than a lack of iron. Administering iron alone will not correct the underlying problem. D. Folic acid supplements: Folic acid can correct megaloblastic anemia due to folate deficiency but does not address vitamin B12 deficiency. Giving folic acid without B12 may improve anemia but will not prevent neurological complications associated with pernicious anemia.