Question

A nurse is working w/a newly hired nurse who is administering meds to clients. Which of the following actions by the newly hired nurse indicates an understanding of med error prevention?

A. Taking all meds out of the unit-dose wrappers before entering the client's room
B. Checking w/the provider when a single dose requires administration of multiple tablets
C. Administering a med, then looking up the usual dosage range
D. Relying on another nurse to clarify a med prescription

Answer 1

The correct action indicating understanding of medication error prevention is checking with the provider when a single dose requires administration of multiple tablets. This practice is in line with error prevention strategies including verification steps and using checklists to avoid mistakes.

Step-by-step explanation:

Understanding of Medication Error Prevention

The action by the newly hired nurse that indicates an understanding of medication error prevention is B. Checking with the provider when a single dose requires administration of multiple tablets. This practice ensures the correct dosage is administered, especially if the dosage seems unusually high or falls outside of the normal range. It is crucial to prevent medication errors as they can have serious consequences for patient safety.

On the contrary, taking all medications out of their unit-dose wrappers before entering the client's room (A) could lead to confusion and possible medication errors. Administering a medication before looking up the usual dosage range (C) is not a safe practice. Relying solely on another nurse to clarify a medication prescription (D) may also introduce the risk of miscommunication and should not replace directly checking with the prescriber if there is uncertainty.