Before administering oxycodone, which action should the nurse perform to ensure patient safety?

Before administering oxycodone, asking the client to rate their pain level is crucial for several reasons. Oxycodone is an opioid pain medication, and its primary purpose is to manage moderate to severe pain. By assessing the client's pain level prior to administration, the nurse can determine the appropriate dosage and ensure that the medication is necessary at that moment.

This action also establishes a baseline for the effectiveness of the administered medication once the client receives it. After administration, the nurse can revisit the client's pain level to evaluate the medication's effectiveness and assess whether additional pain relief is needed or if side effects occur.

While monitoring vital signs, such as blood pressure, is important for overall patient safety, it is not as directly related to the specific purpose of administering oxycodone as evaluating pain levels. Checking the client's weight and assessing appetite are not directly pertinent to the immediate assessment for opioid administration, as they do not provide critical information regarding pain management needs. Hence, focusing on the client's reported pain level aligns best with the goal of effective pain management and safe medication administration.