A nurse is admitting a client who is dehydrated. Which BUN level should the nurse expect the client to have upon admission (Normal BUN 10-20)?

A: Proceeding to measure the oral temperature immediately after the client has eaten ice chips is not appropriate. The cold temperature can affect the accuracy of the reading.

B: Documenting that the nurse was unable to measure the client’s temperature is unnecessary. The nurse can take steps to ensure an accurate measurement by waiting.

C: Providing the client a sip of warm water and waiting 5 minutes is not sufficient to counteract the effect of the ice chips on the oral temperature reading.

D: Waiting 30 minutes before measuring the oral temperature is the correct action. This allows time for the oral cavity to return to its normal temperature, ensuring an accurate reading.

A: The nurse is ultimately responsible for the error. Nurses are responsible for ensuring the correct administration of medications, which includes verifying the correct dosage. When a nurse administers medication, they must double-check the order, especially if it is unclear or illegible. In this case, the nurse misinterpreted the scribbled order and administered an incorrect dose, making them accountable for the error. Nurses are trained to seek clarification if there is any doubt about a medication order to prevent such mistakes.

B: The health care provider, while responsible for prescribing the medication, is not ultimately responsible for the administration error in this scenario. The provider’s role is to ensure that the prescription is clear and accurate. However, if the order is unclear, it is the nurse’s responsibility to seek clarification before administering the medication. The health care provider would be responsible if the error was due to a prescribing mistake, but in this case, the error occurred during the administration phase.

C: The hospital, as an institution, provides the environment and resources for patient care but is not directly responsible for individual medication administration errors. The hospital’s role includes ensuring that systems are in place for safe medication practices, such as proper training and protocols. However, the responsibility for the error lies with the individual who administered the medication incorrectly.

D: The pharmacist’s role is to dispense medications accurately and provide information about the medication. While pharmacists can catch potential errors in prescriptions, they are not responsible for the administration of the medication. In this case, the pharmacist would not be held accountable for the nurse’s misinterpretation and incorrect administration of the medication.