Question

It is a busy day in the office. All the exam rooms are full. The practitioner has prescribed a medication to Mr.

Jones in Exam Room A. The practitioner gives you the medication to provide to the patient. You are so stressed
out that you make a mistake and give the medication to Mrs. Smith in Exam Room B, instead of to Mr. Jones.
Your best course of action is to:
tell no one and hope that the medication does not have any adverse effects on Mrs. Smith.
tell Mrs. Smith and her family of the error and immediately induce vomiting.
look up an antidote and administer to Mrs. Smith immediately.
go to the practitioner immediately and tell him what happened, and then complete the
appropriate paperwork.

Answer 1

The correct action after administering medication to the wrong patient is to promptly inform the practitioner and follow with the necessary documentation and protocols to manage the situation.

Step-by-step explanation:

If you accidentally give medication to the wrong patient, the best course of action is to immediately inform the practitioner about the mistake and then complete the appropriate paperwork. It is crucial to address medication errors transparently to ensure the safety and well-being of patients. The steps taken after such an error should always be in line with the healthcare facility's protocols and may involve monitoring the patient who received the incorrect medication, administering any necessary treatment for potential adverse effects, and taking measures to prevent similar errors in the future.