What should the nurse do immediately after placing a clean topsheet on the patient?

The correct response is to remove the bath blanket. This action follows the placement of a clean topsheet as it allows for the patient to be comfortably covered without unnecessary bulk or heat from the bath blanket. After the clean topsheet is in place, ensuring patient comfort by removing any additional coverings that are no longer needed is important for maintaining hygiene and facilitating ease of movement.

Other options involve tucking or adjusting the sheet in ways that may not be necessary immediately after placing the topsheet. Making a cuff or pleat can be part of bed-making techniques, but they are secondary to ensuring that the patient is properly covered and comfortable. Removing the bath blanket first allows the nurse to confirm that the patient is adequately warmed and ready for further steps in bedding arrangement.