A nurse on a medical-surgical unit is performing medication reconciliation for a newly admitted client. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Rationale: A. Medication reconciliation involves reviewing all medications the client was taking at home and comparing them with the prescriptions ordered on admission. This process helps identify discrepancies, prevent omissions, duplications, or potential interactions, and ensures continuity of care. B. Comparing a standard list of medications for a condition is not part of medication reconciliation because it may not reflect the individual client’s needs, allergies, or previous therapy. The focus should be on the client’s actual home medications. C. This step refers to the “three checks” of medication administration, which is different from the initial reconciliation process. Reconciliation focuses on matching home medications with admission orders, not verifying labels prior to each dose. D. While checking for allergies is a critical safety step, it is only one component of safe medication administration. Medication reconciliation is broader, ensuring that all home medications are considered and that any changes or omissions are intentional and documented.