Question

A nurse is preparing a medication for a client in the medication room. The nurse receives an emergency call while withdrawing medication into a syringe. Which action should the nurse take?

Discard the medication from the syringe into the sink

Place the syringe in the clothes pocket before leaving the medication room

Store the syringe in the client's drawer in the medication cart

Leave the syringe on the counter in the medication room

Answer 1

The nurse should securely store the syringe in the client's drawer in the medication cart when interrupted by an emergency call. This keeps the medication safe and prevents potential contamination, errors, or loss.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct action for the nurse to take when interrupted by an emergency call during medication preparation is to store the syringe securely in the client's drawer in the medication cart. This prevents any potential medication errors, tampering, or loss of the medication, and ensures that the syringe can be retrieved once the nurse is able to return to their duty.

An emergency situation does not negate the nurse's responsibility to practice safe medication administration. Placing the syringe on the counter or in their pocket could lead to contamination or errors. Disposing of the medication could result in waste of medication and the need to prepare a new dose. Therefore, securing the medication in the medication cart is the most appropriate action to maintain safety and continuity of care. Following this guideline aligns with procedures intended to prevent incidents similar to the healthcare worker stealing syringes, ensuring that medications are accounted for and patients are protected from potential harm.