The nurse enters the room to give a prescribed medication but the patient is inside the bathroom. What should the nurse do?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Returning after a few minutes and staying until the patient takes the medication ensures safe administration, adhering to the 'Five Rights' right patient, drug, dose, route, and time. The nurse verifies ingestion, preventing errors like missed doses or misuse, and documents accurately. Leaving medication unattended risks it being lost, taken incorrectly, or accessed by others, violating safety protocols. Instructing without supervision assumes compliance but lacks confirmation, potentially falsifying records if the dose isn't taken. Waiting briefly then leaving it bedside still neglects oversight. Returning and remaining present balances respect for the patient's privacy with accountability, ensuring the medication reaches its intended recipient at the prescribed time, critical for treatment efficacy and legal standards in nursing practice.