A physician working on a rehabilitation unit discovers that a patient is experiencing an acute allergic reaction to a medication. The physician calls for nursing assistance. When the nurse arrives, the physician instructs the nurse to administer "25 mg of diphenhydramine IV push". Which of the following responses from the nurse ensures a lower risk of communication errors?

Question

A physician working on a rehabilitation unit discovers that a patient is experiencing an acute allergic reaction to a medication.  The physician calls for nursing assistance.  When the nurse arrives, the physician instructs the nurse to administer "25 mg of diphenhydramine IV push".  Which of the following responses from the nurse ensures a lower risk of communication errors?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Clear communication between health care team members is an essential component of high-quality patient care. Errors can occur frequently when communication is unclear or vague, and communication errors are one of the most common factors involved in malpractice claims for medical errors. Closed-loop communication is a form of effective communication used in health care settings and other high-risk fields. This technique lowers the risk of misunderstandings by ensuring clear communication. It enhances the team's ability to exchange clear, concise information; acknowledges receipt of the information; and confirms its understanding. Closed-loop communication typically involves an individual (the sender) transmitting a message to another individual (the receiver), who then repeats the message back to the sender. The sender typically will confirm the message by saying "yes". In this situation, the nurse must repeat the order in an accurate and concise manner to convey that the physician's message has been received. The physician should confirm by saying "yes" following the nurse's statement to convey that this is correct. (Choice B) Although this response conveys that the nurse has comprehended that the patient needs diphenhydramine immediately, it does not convey the nurse's understanding of the correct route of administration. (Choices C, D, and E) Responses such as these are vague and do not convey whether the nurse has fully and accurately understood the order. Educational objective: Health care providers working on a team should employ closed-loop communication, in which team members repeat back the information received to ensure that the correct information has been conveyed. This highly effective form of communication reduces the risk of medical errors in the health care setting. __________ References: Communicating, coordinating, and cooperating when lives depend on it: tips for teamwork. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18595379)

A Physician Working on a Rehabilitation Unit Discovers That a Patient