A client is being admitted to the unit with a varicella zoster virus infection. Which room should the charge nurse assign to the client?

A. Use at least 2 client identifiers before administering a dose – This is a critical step in preventing medication errors, but it would not have prevented the error in this scenario. The issue was with the dosage of the medication, not the identification of the client.
B. Document all medication as soon as it is given – While documentation is important for patient safety, it does not directly address the error of giving the wrong dose. Proper calculation and verification of the dose before administration are more effective in preventing this type of error.
C. Question unusually large or small doses – This is a key technique for preventing medication errors. The nurse should have questioned the unusually large dose of potassium, which was not calculated based on the client's weight and the prescribed amount. This would have alerted the nurse to the error before administering the medication.
D. Double check the dosage of high-risk medications with another nurse – Potassium is considered a high-risk medication, and double-checking the dosage with another nurse would have been an effective safety measure. This technique helps to catch errors in dosage calculations, especially with medications that have narrow therapeutic windows like potassium.
E. Involve and educate clients in medication administration – While involving and educating clients is important for overall safety and understanding, it is not a technique that would have helped prevent this particular medication error. The error was related to the nurse’s calculation and administration of the dose, not the client's involvement.

A. Apply sterile-strips is not the most appropriate action. Steri-strips are typically used for approximating wound edges or supporting sutures, but they are not the first intervention when there is concern about infection or unusual exudate.

B. Obtain a wound culture is the correct action. A thick tan exudate may indicate infection or an abnormal healing process. The nurse should obtain a wound culture to identify the presence of infection and guide appropriate treatment.

C. Apply a debriding agent is premature without first assessing the wound for infection. Debridement is typically used to remove necrotic tissue, but the priority is to determine whether an infection is present before proceeding with debridement.

D. Remove every other suture is not indicated. Sutures should not be removed unless instructed by the healthcare provider, and there is no indication that sutures need to be removed at this time. The focus should be on assessing the wound for infection first.