A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for an invasive procedure that requires consent. When the nurse arrives at the bedside to obtain the client's signature they find that the client is asleep after receiving a sedative. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A) Turn off electrical equipment in the client's room: While turning off electrical equipment can help prevent the spread of fire if the source is electrical, it may not be the most immediate action to take after removing the client from the room. The priority is to activate the alarm to alert others and initiate the fire response protocol.

B) Use a Class A fire extinguisher to contain the fire: Using a fire extinguisher is a potential action, but the type of fire extinguisher needed depends on the type of fire. Class A fire extinguishers are suitable for ordinary combustibles such as wood and paper. However, since the source of the fire is a trash can, the fire may involve combustible materials beyond Class A. Therefore, activating the alarm takes precedence over extinguishing the fire.

C) Close the door to the client's room: Closing the door can help contain the fire and prevent its spread to other areas. While this action is important, it is secondary to activating the alarm, which alerts others to the fire and initiates the response process.

D) Activate the alarm outside the client's room: This is the most appropriate action to take first. Activating the alarm alerts others to the fire, enabling them to respond promptly and effectively. It initiates the facility's fire response protocol, including evacuating occupants and summoning the fire department. This action ensures the safety of everyone in the vicinity and allows for a coordinated emergency response.

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.