A pharmacy technician arrives on the nursing unit to deliver opioids and asks the nurse to receive the medications. How should the nurse respond to the technician while assisting a confused client?

The appropriate response in this scenario is to inform the pharmacy technician that the nurse cannot receive the medications at that moment and to ask them to wait a few minutes or come back later. This answer emphasizes the importance of maintaining patient safety and ensuring that the nurse can fully concentrate on the confused client before handling any other tasks, such as receiving controlled substances like opioids.

Receiving such medications requires careful attention to detail, proper verification of dosage, and consideration of the patient's current condition, all of which could be compromised if the nurse is distracted or preoccupied with another patient. This response reflects professionalism, prioritization of patient care, and adherence to medication administration protocols, which are essential in any healthcare setting.