A nurse finds an open vial of morphine lying on top of the cabinet in a client's room. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Independently dispose of the remaining medication.
Return the medication to the unit's stock for future use.
Administer the medication to other clients to avoid waste.
Report the discrepancy immediately.
The Correct Answer is D
A. Independently disposing of the remaining medication may not be in compliance with facility policies and could potentially interfere with an investigation into how the medication was left unattended.
B. Returning the medication to the unit's stock for future use is not appropriate, as the vial is already open and its integrity may be compromised.
C. Administering the medication to other clients is absolutely not an option. This could lead to serious harm or even fatal consequences for the other clients involved.
D. When a nurse discovers an open vial of medication left unattended, it is a serious safety concern. The nurse should report the discrepancy immediately to the appropriate personnel or supervisor. This ensures that the situation is addressed promptly and that necessary actions are taken to prevent potential harm to clients.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. The nurse violated the ethical principle of Beneficence by not completing an incident report. Beneficence involves taking actions that promote the well-being and safety of the client. Failing to report an incorrect medication administration, even if no harm occurred, could potentially jeopardize the well-being of future clients.
B. Autonomy refers to the right of the client to make decisions about their own care and treatment. While it is an important ethical principle, it is not directly relevant to the nurse's failure to complete an incident report.
C. Veracity involves truthfulness and honesty. While not completing an incident report may be seen as a lack of transparency, the primary ethical principle violated in this scenario is beneficence.
D. Confidentiality pertains to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of client information. This principle is not directly related to the nurse's failure to complete an incident report.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. After palpating the abdomen is not the ideal time to auscultate bowel sounds.
Palpation may stimulate bowel sounds and potentially give a false impression of their presence or absence.
B. Prior to percussing the abdomen is the correct sequence. Auscultation of bowel sounds should be done before any other abdominal assessment techniques, including percussion or palpation. This allows the nurse to accurately hear any existing bowel sounds without interference.
C. Prior to inspecting the abdomen is not the ideal time for auscultation. Inspection focuses on visual examination and assessment, which does not involve listening for bowel sounds.
D. After assessing for kidney tenderness is not the correct timing for auscultating bowel sounds. Assessing for kidney tenderness involves a different aspect of the physical examination and does not influence bowel sound assessment.
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