A nurse is preparing to administer a tablet to the patient. When should the nurse remove the medication from its unit dose package?

Choice A reason: Removing in the medication room risks mix-ups; tablets could be dropped or misidentified before reaching the patient, compromising the three-check safety protocol. Choice B reason: Outside the door is premature; without the patient present, verification against the MAR is incomplete, increasing error risk before final identity confirmation. Choice C reason: At the cart is too early; medication stays packaged until bedside to ensure the right patient, right drug match, reducing handling errors or contamination. Choice D reason: Bedside removal allows final MAR check with patient ID; it ensures accuracy, prevents mix-ups, and aligns with safety standards for administering oral medications.