Final answer:
The quickest way to see a patient's medications without opening their chart is to access the pharmacy database, which provides a current list of prescribed medications.
Step-by-step explanation:
To quickly see a patient's medications without opening his or her chart, the most appropriate action would be to access the pharmacy database. This allows healthcare professionals to view a current list of medications prescribed to the patient. While a patient’s wristband may have limited information about medications, it is not comprehensive. Nursing notes could provide some context about medication administration, however, this would not be a complete or the quickest resource. Inspecting the medication cabinet would show what medications are on hand, but not necessarily what the patient is currently prescribed.