A nurse is assisting with the care of a client who is experiencing a cardiac arrest. Which of the following tasks should the nurse assign to an assistive personnel?

A) Ensure the client wears nonskid slippers when walking around the house:

Wearing nonskid slippers can help improve traction and stability, reducing the risk of slips and falls, especially on smooth or slippery surfaces commonly found in homes. Ensuring the client wears nonskid slippers is a proactive measure to prevent falls.

B) Install a raised toilet seat in the client's bathroom:

A raised toilet seat can make it easier for older adults with mobility issues to sit down and stand up from the toilet safely. It reduces the distance the client needs to lower themselves, decreasing the risk of falls, especially for those with balance or strength limitations.

C) Encourage an annual review of the medications the client is taking:

Medication review is essential to identify any medications that may increase the risk of falls due to side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, or orthostatic hypotension. An annual review ensures that any potential fall-inducing medications can be identified and addressed promptly.

D) Attach full-length side rails to the client's bed:

While side rails may prevent falls out of bed, they can also increase the risk of entrapment and injury. The use of side rails is controversial and should be based on individualized assessment and risk-benefit analysis. In many cases, alternative interventions to prevent falls should be considered before resorting to side rails.

E) Place throw rugs on uncarpeted floors in the client's home:

Throw rugs can be tripping hazards, especially for older adults with mobility issues. They can easily slip or bunch up, leading to falls. Removing throw rugs or securing them firmly to the floor is recommended to reduce the risk of falls in the home.

A) Contact the nurse from the previous shift to report the doubled dose:

While it may be appropriate to communicate with the nurse from the previous shift to gather information about the medication administration, contacting them solely to report the doubled dose may not be the most effective action. The priority is to ensure appropriate documentation of the incident and take necessary steps to address it.

B) Document the doubled dose in the client's medical record:

Documenting the doubled dose in the client's medical record is essential for accurate and transparent documentation of the incident. This documentation should include details such as the medication, dosage, time of administration, and any actions taken in response to the error. It ensures that all members of the healthcare team are aware of what occurred and facilitates appropriate follow-up and monitoring.

C) Place a copy of the incident report in the client's record:

While completing an incident report is necessary to formally document the medication error and initiate an investigation, simply placing a copy of the report in the client's record may not be sufficient. The incident report typically serves as an internal document used for quality improvement purposes and may not be part of the client's official medical record.

D) Report the incident to the manager of the pharmacy:

Reporting the incident to the manager of the pharmacy may be appropriate for addressing potential medication dispensing errors or system issues but may not be the immediate action required when a medication error occurs at the administration stage. The first priority is to ensure accurate documentation of the error in the client's medical record.