Question

A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for a hydromorphone 2 mg immediate-release tablet by mouth. The nurse administers a 4mg immediate-release tablet by mistake. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

A. Document the facts about the error in the medication administration record
B. Obtain the client's vital signs and LOC
C. Prepare an incident report
D. Report the error to the provider and charge nurse

Answer 1

The first action a nurse should take after administering the wrong dose of medication is to assess the patient by obtaining their vital signs and level of consciousness. Subsequent actions include reporting the error and documenting it properly.

Step-by-step explanation:

The situation described is a medication administration error, which is a critical event in clinical practice. The first action a nurse should take after administering an incorrect dose of medication, such as giving 4 mg of hydromorphone instead of the prescribed 2 mg, is to ensure the patient's safety. Therefore, the nurse must immediately obtain the client's vital signs and level of consciousness (LOC) to assess the patient's immediate condition and potential impact of the overdose.

Once the initial patient assessment has been conducted and any necessary emergency measures are taken to secure patient safety, the nurse should then report the error to the overseeing provider and the charge nurse. Following internal procedures, documenting the facts in the medication administration record and preparing an incident report are essential steps that should be taken subsequently to ensure that the event is properly recorded and analyzed for future prevention.