The nurse working on a mental health unit is prioritizing nursing care activities because of a staffing shortage. One practical nurse (PN) is on the unit with the nurse, and another RN is expected to arrive within two hours. Clients need to be awakened and morning medications need to be prepared. Which plan is best for the nurse to implement?

A. Wake all the clients and instruct them to go to dining area for medication administration: Waking all clients at once without adequate staffing may create safety risks and chaos, especially on a mental health unit where supervision is essential. B. Allow the clients to sleep until a third staff person can assist with unit activities: Delaying medication administration could compromise timely treatment and therapeutic outcomes, making this an unsafe approach. C. Explain to the clients that it will be necessary to cooperate until another RN arrives: While client communication is important, it does not address the immediate need for safe medication administration and supervision. D. Ask the PN to administer medications as clients are awakened so both nurses are available: Delegating medication administration to the PN while clients are awakened in a staggered, controlled manner ensures timely delivery of medications, maintains client safety, and allows the nurse to supervise and manage the unit effectively during a staffing shortage.