A nurse realizes that a double dose of a prescribed oral antihypertensive medication was inadvertently administered to a client 15 minutes ago. In which order should the nurse perform the following actions to manage this error and prevent client injury? Arrange the actions from first to last.
- 1Assess the client's blood pressure, heart rate, and overall physiological status.
- 2Notify the primary healthcare provider of the medication administration error.
- 3Implement prescribed medical interventions and initiate ongoing monitoring.
- 4Inform the client and their designated family members about the medication error.
- 5Complete an internal safety variance report detailing the event.
Answer
The correct sequence is: Assess the client, notify the healthcare provider, implement interventions, inform the client/family, and complete the variance report.
When managing a medication error, the nurse must prioritize immediate physiological safety. Following the nursing process, assessment is always the first step to identify any acute adverse effects. Once the client's status is known, the nurse notifies the healthcare provider to obtain necessary orders. The nurse then implements these interventions to stabilize the client. After clinical safety is secured, ethical obligations require disclosing the error to the client or family. Finally, an institutional safety variance report is completed for risk management, as administrative duties must never take precedence over direct patient care.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Prioritization in Error Management and Nursing Process
Estimated Time:1m 30s