The nurse makes a medication error. Which action will the nurse take first?
A) Prepare an incident report.
B) Explain to the patient that a medication error has occurred.
C) Assess the patient for any adverse reactions.
D) Document the medication given, the response, and corrective actions taken.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When a medication error occurs, the nurse's priorities are to determine the effect on the patient and intervene to offset any adverse effects of the error. Actions include immediate and ongoing assessment, notification of the prescribing health care provider, initiation of interventions as prescribed to offset any adverse effects, and documentation related to the event. Error reporting is an essential component of patient safety and should be completed as soon as the patient is assessed and stable. The nurse should follow facility guidelines for medication error reporting.

The Nurse Makes a Medication Error