Question

A nurse is caring for a client who received 0.9% sodium chloride 1 L over 4 hr instead of over 8 hr as prescribed. Which of the following information should the nurse enter as a complete documentation of the incident?

A. "Client received sodium chloride over 4 hr instead of 8 hr."
B. "Client accidentally received the wrong IV fluid rate."
C. "Nurse administered sodium chloride too quickly."
D. "Provider was notified of the error, and client is being monitored."

Answer 1

The most complete documentation of the medication error would be option D, which indicates that the provider was informed and the patient is under observation. This communicates both the error and the response to ensure patient safety.

Step-by-step explanation:

When documenting a medication error, it is essential to provide a complete and accurate account of the incident. Considering the options given, the correct documentation would be: D. "Provider was notified of the error, and client is being monitored." This statement includes two critical pieces of information: notification of the healthcare provider and the ongoing monitoring of the patient. It implies that the incident has been communicated and that the patient's condition is being attentively assessed following the error. To expand upon this in a real documentation scenario, details should include: the exact medication and dose administered, the prescribed rate compared to the actual rate, the time the error was discovered, any actions taken to address the error, the current condition of the patient, and any orders received from the healthcare provider.