Before beginning care, which safety steps should you verify?

• A. Identify the resident and verify the care plan; ensure bed wheels are locked and call light within reach
• B. Confirm room number and print the care plan
• C. Check the resident's dietary preferences
• D. Gather all supplies from the closet

Answer: (A)

The safety action most important before starting care is making sure you’re caring for the right person and following the exact plan for them, while also setting up the environment to prevent accidents. Verifying the resident’s identity and confirming the care plan ensures you perform the correct tasks for the right patient and follow any specific instructions or precautions. Locking the bed wheels prevents the bed from moving unexpectedly, reducing the risk of falls or unwanted shifts during care. Keeping the call light within reach empowers the resident to summon help quickly if they need assistance, which supports timely communication and safety.

Other steps like confirming the room number, printing the care plan, checking dietary preferences, or gathering supplies from a closet don’t address these immediate safety checks: they may verify some administrative details or be conveniences, but they don’t ensure you’ve correctly identified the resident, are following the approved care plan, or have a ready means for the resident to request help.