Basic Nursing 1st Edition by Judith Wilkinson, Leslie Treas

Exercise 8

You are caring for two clients on a medical-surgical unit. One of your clients is short of breath and complaining of chest pain. Your other client is recovering from abdominal surgery. He is alert, stable, and free from pain at this time. After stabilizing your first client, you realize you are 45 minutes late administering a medication to the abdominal surgery patient. You are not sure how to proceed.
• What theoretical knowledge do you need?
• You give the medicine as soon as you can (60 min late). How and when should you chart the medication administered?
• If you had been aware that you were going to be late with the medication, what might you have done to be sure it was given on time?