Final answer:
In case of medication administration error such as giving zolpidem to the wrong patient, the nurse should immediately notify the client's healthcare provider and follow the facility's policy to fill out an incident report, keeping it confidential. Naloxone is not an appropriate reversal agent for zolpidem as it is used for opioid overdose.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the event that a nurse administers zolpidem to the wrong client, the correct course of action is to document the notification of the client's provider. This involves informing the healthcare provider who has oversight of the patient's care about the error so that any necessary medical intervention can be provided and to allow the provider to monitor the patient for any adverse effects.
The nurse should not document the completion of an incident report in the medical record of the client, as incident reports are part of the institution's quality improvement and legal processes and aren't part of the client's medical record. Additionally, the nurse should not administer a dose of naloxone, because naloxone is an opioid antagonist and would not reverse the effects of zolpidem, which is not an opioid. Keeping a copy of the incident report on the unit is also not recommended because it breaches confidentiality and does not follow the standard protocol of most healthcare facilities.
After ensuring the safety of the client, the nurse should complete an incident report according to the facility's policy. The report serves as an internal document to prevent future errors and improve safety protocols, but it should be kept confidential and not stored within the unit.