The nurse is caring for a patient newly diagnosed with hypertension. Blood pressure readings over the past 8 hours have been: 08:00: 164/93 mm Hg 12:00: 158/90 mm Hg 16:00: 166/94 mm Hg The health care provider prescribes a no added salt diet and plans to start the patient on hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg. Which action is most important for the nurse to do before administering this drug?
a. Check the patient's serum potassium level.
b. Review the patient's urine output for the past 24 hours.
c. Instruct the unlicensed assistive personnel to check the patient's blood pressure.
d. Check whether the patient is having abnormal heart rhythms.
