Question

The nurse provides medication to a client at the wrong time. No harm came to the client as a result of the nurse's error, and the nurse files a report about the medication error. What should the risk management team do?

A) Discipline the nurse appropriately.
B) Report the nurse to the board of nursing.
C) Monitor all nurses on the unit to ensure this does not occur again.
D) Attempt to implement policy changes to prevent future errors.

Answer 1

The risk management team should focus on implementing policy changes to prevent future medication errors by analyzing the systemic issues that led to the mistake and improving processes.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a nurse administers medication to a client at the wrong time and it does not result in harm, but a report is filed about the medication error, the appropriate response of the risk management team should focus on preventing future errors. In this scenario, choice D, implementing policy changes to prevent future errors, would be the most constructive approach. The team should analyze the error, taking into account any systemic issues that may have contributed to the mistake, such as unclear medication schedules, inadequate staffing, or complex workflow processes. After identifying the underlying causes, they could implement policy changes like improved scheduling systems, additional training for nurses on drug administration protocols, and regular audits to monitor for compliance.