During change-of-shift report, a nurse discovers they overlooked a prescription for a type and cross-match of a client who is to have surgery the next day. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
Inform the provider of the delay in obtaining the type and cross-match.
Document the incident in the client’s medical record.
Prepare an incident report for risk management.
Obtain the client’s type and cross-match.
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A Reason:
Informing the provider of the delay in obtaining the type and cross-match is important for keeping the healthcare team informed. However, this action should follow the immediate step of obtaining the type and cross-match to ensure the client has compatible blood available for surgery. Communication with the provider is crucial but secondary to addressing the immediate need.
Choice B Reason:
Documenting the incident in the client’s medical record is necessary for maintaining accurate records and ensuring continuity of care. However, this action should be performed after the immediate need for obtaining the type and cross-match is addressed. Accurate documentation is essential but not the first priority in this situation.
Choice C Reason:
Preparing an incident report for risk management is important for identifying and addressing potential system issues that led to the oversight. However, this action is not the immediate priority. The primary focus should be on obtaining the type and cross-match to ensure the client’s safety during surgery. Incident reporting can be done after the immediate needs are met.
Choice D Reason:
Obtaining the client’s type and cross-match is the first action the nurse should take because it ensures that the client will have compatible blood available for transfusion if needed during surgery. This step directly addresses the immediate clinical need and prioritizes the client’s safety and readiness for surgery.
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
Choice A Reason
Preparing an incident report is an important step in documenting the oversight and ensuring that similar errors are prevented in the future. However, it is not the immediate priority when addressing the current situation. The primary focus should be on ensuring the client’s safety and the timely completion of the necessary preoperative procedures.
Choice B Reason
Canceling the client’s surgery is a drastic measure that should only be considered if there is no other way to ensure the client’s safety. Before taking such a step, the nurse should explore all other options to rectify the situation, such as notifying the operative team and the provider. This allows for a collaborative approach to determine the best course of action.
Choice C Reason
Notifying the operative team of the omission is the most appropriate action. This ensures that all relevant healthcare providers are aware of the situation and can take the necessary steps to address it. The operative team can then decide whether to proceed with the surgery as planned or to delay it until the type and crossmatch are completed. This collaborative approach prioritizes the client’s safety and ensures that all necessary precautions are taken.
Choice D Reason
Giving the client another blood consent form to sign is not directly related to addressing the overlooked prescription for a type and crossmatch. While obtaining informed consent is crucial, it does not resolve the immediate issue of ensuring that the client has the correct blood type and crossmatch completed before surgery. The focus should be on rectifying the oversight and ensuring that all preoperative requirements are met.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
Dissociation is a defense mechanism where a person disconnects from their thoughts, feelings, or sense of identity. It often occurs in response to trauma or extreme stress, allowing the individual to distance themselves from the reality of the situation. In this case, the client is not showing signs of dissociation, such as feeling detached from reality or experiencing memory gaps. Instead, they are avoiding the reality of their partner’s condition.
Choice B Reason:
Denial is a defense mechanism where a person refuses to accept the reality of a situation to avoid dealing with painful emotions. The client’s statement about planning a trip despite their partner’s terminal condition indicates that they are not acknowledging the severity of the situation. This refusal to accept reality helps them cope with the emotional distress associated with their partner’s impending death.
Choice C Reason:
Regression involves reverting to behaviors from an earlier stage of development when faced with stress. This might include actions like thumb-sucking, bed-wetting, or other childlike behaviors. The client’s statement does not indicate a return to earlier developmental behaviors but rather a refusal to accept the current reality.
Choice D Reason:
Displacement is a defense mechanism where negative emotions are redirected from their original source to a less threatening target. For example, someone might take out their frustration with their boss on a family member. In this scenario, the client is not redirecting their emotions but rather avoiding the reality of their partner’s condition.