A client receives a wrong medication. The nurse who made the medication error should take which of the following actions first?
Complete an incident report.
Notify the nurse manager.
Call the client's provider.
Assess the client.
The Correct Answer is D
A. While completing an incident report is important for documentation and quality improvement, it is not the immediate priority in the event of a medication error.
B. Notifying the nurse manager is a necessary step for reporting the error, but it should occur after ensuring the client's safety.
C. Calling the client's provider is essential to discuss the medication error and possible interventions, but the client's health and safety must be assessed first.
D. Assessing the client is the priority action to ensure the client’s safety and to identify any adverse effects resulting from the wrong medication. The nurse needs to determine the client's vital signs, level of consciousness, and any immediate symptoms related to the medication administered.
Free Nursing Test Bank
- Free Pharmacology Quiz 1
- Free Medical-Surgical Quiz 2
- Free Fundamentals Quiz 3
- Free Maternal-Newborn Quiz 4
- Free Anatomy and Physiology Quiz 5
- Free Obstetrics and Pediatrics Quiz 6
- Free Fluid and Electrolytes Quiz 7
- Free Community Health Quiz 8
- Free Promoting Health across the Lifespan Quiz 9
- Free Multidimensional Care Quiz 10
View Related questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Performing the final medication check in the area where the medication was obtained does not ensure the correct patient is receiving the medication.
B. Documenting after administration does not allow for a final check of the medication against the patient’s identity and allergies.
C. Performing the final check at the client's bedside before administration allows the nurse to confirm the patient's identity, the medication's appropriateness, and the dosage immediately before giving it.
D. Reviewing the prescription at the nurses' station may not account for patient-specific factors that need to be confirmed at the bedside.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Assessing the pedal pulses with a Doppler device is not necessary in this situation; the focus should be on the apical pulse due to the irregularity noted in the radial pulse.
B. Assessing the pedal pulses for a full minute does not address the irregularity of the radial pulse and is not the priority.
C. While assessing the apical pulse is appropriate, using a Doppler device is not required unless there are difficulties in obtaining the pulse normally.
D. Assessing the apical pulse for a full minute is the correct action because it provides a more accurate reflection of the heart's rhythm and rate, especially when there is an irregular radial pulse.