A newly admitted patient who is morbidly obese asks the nurse for assistance to the bathroom for the first time. Which action should the nurse take initially?

A) Ask for at least two other assistive personnel to come to the room.
B) Medicate the patient to alleviate discomfort while ambulating.
C) Review the patient's activity orders.
D) Offer the patient a walker.

Before beginning care, review the plan to determine the need for assistance and the type required. Before intervening, the nurse must check the patient's orders. For example, if the patient is on bed rest, the nurse will need to explain the use of a bedpan rather than helping the patient get out of bed to go to the bathroom. Asking for assistive personnel is appropriate after making sure the patient can get out of bed. If the patient is obese, the nurse will likely need assistance in getting the patient to the bathroom. Medicating the patient before checking the orders is not advised in this situation. Before medicating for pain, the nurse needs to perform a pain assessment. Offering the patient a walker is a premature intervention until the orders are verified.