Final answer:
The most important action for a nurse after a preoperative client states no known medication allergies is to confirm and document the allergy status and ensure communication across the surgical team to prioritize patient safety.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a preoperative client states he is not allergic to any medications, the most important nursing action for the nurse to implement next is to confirm and document the client's allergy status. This involves ensuring that all members of the surgical team are aware of whether the patient has a known allergy. This step is critical as it ensures patient safety and helps prevent any potential adverse reactions during surgery. Before the induction of anesthesia, it is routine for the nurse and an anesthesia professional to orally confirm the patient's identity, surgical site and procedure, consent, and allergy status. Additionally, during the time out period, which occurs before skin incision, the entire team reviews critical information including the confirmation of the patient's identity, the surgical site and procedure, and any patient-specific concerns such as allergies.
It is essential for the nurse to also review out loud with the team that prophylactic antibiotics have been administered within 60 minutes before the incision is made or confirm that antibiotics are not indicated. This can prevent postoperative infections. The nurse must also ensure that essential imaging results for the correct patient are displayed in the operating room and that the patient's airway and risk of aspiration have been evaluated, with proper equipment and assistance being readily available.