Question

A nursing student is newly assigned to care for a client transferred from the intensive care unit from another hospital who needs pain medication. The student noticed that the client's identification wristband is not present, and there is a client identification band taped to the client's foot of his bed, which looks different from other bands the nursing student has seen in the hospital. Which action should the nurse take next?

a. Ask the client to state his first and last name and date of birth and, if it matches the computerized chart, skip scanning the band and go ahead and administer the medication
b. Ask the client to state his first and last name and date of birth and compare the information with the wrist band taped to the bed and, if it matches, administer the medication
c. Ask the client's primary care nurse to properly identify the client and place a client identification wristband on the client before administering medication
d. Ask the client if he is John Jones and born November 15, 1970, and if affirmed, place the wristband at the end of the bed on the client's wrist and repair it with tape, and administer the med

Answer 1

The nursing student should request the primary care nurse to verify the patient's identity and secure an identification wristband prior to administering medication to maintain patient safety and adhere to identification protocols.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nursing student should take appropriate steps to ensure patient safety and accuracy of identification before administering any medication. The correct action to take next is to ask the client's primary care nurse to properly identify the client and place a client identification wristband on the client before administering medication. This action ensures adherence to proper protocols concerning patient identity verification, which is a critical component in delivering safe and effective healthcare. By doing so, the nursing student is exercising due diligence and mitigating the risk of medication errors.