When reviewing the admitting prescriptions for a client, the nurse notes that the dose of one medication is three times the usual dose of this medication. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Contact the pharmacy and confirm that the dosage is safe to administer.
Inform the charge nurse and administer the dose of the medication the provider prescribed.
Ask another nurse to verify that the dosage is appropriate for the client.
Contact the provider to question the dosage.
The Correct Answer is D
A. Contacting the pharmacy may provide information, but the nurse's primary responsibility is to clarify the prescription with the provider, as they ordered the medication.
B. Informing the charge nurse and administering the medication without verifying the dosage is inappropriate and could potentially harm the client.
C. Asking another nurse to verify the dosage is a good practice but does not address the need for clarification from the provider.
D. Contacting the provider to question the dosage is the correct action, as it ensures patient safety by confirming the appropriateness of the prescribed dose before administration.
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Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Obtaining the client's consent is the responsibility of the provider, not the nurse. The nurse should ensure the client is informed but cannot independently obtain consent.
B. It is not within the nurse's scope of practice to explain the procedure in detail; this is the responsibility of the healthcare provider. The nurse can clarify information if the client has questions but should not assume the role of the educator regarding the procedure.
C. Witnessing the client's signature is an appropriate action for the nurse once the client has received information from the provider and understands the procedure, as it confirms that the client voluntarily consents.
D. Explaining the risks and benefits of the procedure is also the responsibility of the healthcare provider, as they are the ones performing the procedure and are qualified to discuss it in detail.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Checking the client for allergies is the first step in ensuring the safety of medication administration; it is crucial to verify that the client does not have any known allergies to the medication before proceeding.
B. Documenting that the medication was administered should occur after the medication has been given, not before.
C. Mixing the medication at the client’s bedside is an important step, but it should be done only after confirming that the medication is appropriate for the client.
D. Determining the client's response to the medication occurs after administration, making it a follow-up action rather than a first step.