What is one appropriate nursing action prior to administering insulin?

Verifying the safe dose with another licensed healthcare provider is an essential nursing action prior to administering insulin. This practice aligns with the principles of medication safety and helps prevent errors, especially since insulin can have significant effects on blood glucose levels. Confirming the dosage ensures that the nurse is administering the correct amount based on the patient’s current clinical condition and treatment plan. This collaborative approach fosters an environment of safety and accountability in medication administration.

Other options, while they may hold their own importance in patient care, do not specifically address the immediate safety concern of insulin administration. Checking the patient's weight could be relevant for determining appropriate dosages in some cases, but it is not a standard action taken immediately before administering insulin. Removing hair from the injection site is unnecessary and can lead to skin irritation or complications, and administering insulin without checking lab values—like blood glucose levels—can result in potentially dangerous outcomes. Therefore, confirming the dose with another provider stands out as the most appropriate and critical nursing action prior to administration.