The nurse is providing care for a patient with pain rated at a level 9 on a scale of 0 to 10. The patient is ordered to receive a narcotic pain medication orally every 3 to 4 hr as needed. Which action by the nurse is correct if the patient's medication was last given 3 hr ago?
a) Administer the medication immediately
b) Monitor the patient's blood pressure and respiratory status
c) Withhold the medication until the next scheduled time
d) Ask the patient if they want the medication