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Question

Difficulty: MediumAccident, Error, and Injury Prevention

A practical nurse is preparing to administer scheduled medications to a client who is alert and oriented. Upon bringing the medications to the bedside, the electronic barcode scanner fails to read the client's identification band. Which action should the nurse take next to prevent a medication error?

  1. Ask the client to state their full name and date of birth, and verify this against the medication record.Answer
  2. B
    Retrieve a replacement identification band from the client's chart and scan it at the bedside.
  3. C
    Leave the prepared medications on the overbed table while locating a functioning barcode scanner.
  4. D
    Verify the client's identity by checking the room and bed number listed on the medication record.

Answer

The correct action is to manually verify the client's identity by asking them to state their full name and date of birth, and comparing this information directly to the electronic medication administration record.
When a barcode scanning system fails, the nurse is still legally and ethically required to perform proper client identification before administering any medication. For an alert and oriented client, the most appropriate and safest method is to ask the client to state two acceptable identifiers—typically their full name and date of birth—and compare this information directly to the medication administration record. This ensures the right medication is given to the right client.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Recognize that the failure of the electronic barcode scanner does not eliminate the strict requirement to verify two client identifiers.
Alternative, acceptable identifiers must be used before proceeding.
Maintaining client safety and adhering to medication administration rights is mandatory regardless of technology function.
2
Identify the client's cognitive status based on the scenario.
The client is alert and oriented, making them capable of participating in their own identification.
Alert clients are the most reliable source for their own identifying information.
3
Perform manual verification using two standard, acceptable identifiers.
The nurse asks the client for their full name and date of birth, and checks it against the electronic medication administration record.
This action fulfills the two-identifier rule and directly prevents medication administration errors.

Key Concept

Client Identification and Medication Error Prevention
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Topics

Accident, Error, and Injury Prevention

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