What assessment should a nurse perform before initiating antiemetic therapy in a childbearing-aged woman?

Before initiating antiemetic therapy in a childbearing-aged woman, it is essential to assess whether she is pregnant because many antiemetics can pose risks to fetal development or may not be safe during pregnancy. Certain medications can lead to teratogenic effects or affect the pregnancy in other significant ways. Therefore, confirming a woman's pregnancy status is crucial to ensure that the treatment plan is safe, effective, and appropriate for her condition.

Inquiring about a family history of nausea, current medications, or recent surgeries might provide relevant context for the assessment, but these factors do not directly address the potential risks associated with antiemetic therapy during pregnancy. The safety of both the mother and the developing fetus is the priority in this situation.