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) 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.

A) Restraining a client without a provider's prescription:

This action represents assault and false imprisonment rather than negligence. Assault involves the threat of harm or unwanted touching, while false imprisonment involves the unlawful restraint or restriction of a person's freedom of movement.

B) Threatening to administer a medication a client has refused:

Threatening to administer a medication against a client's wishes may constitute assault or battery, depending on the circumstances, but it does not directly relate to negligence unless the threat results in harm due to the nurse's failure to adhere to the standard of care.

C) Failing to notify the provider after a medication error:

Negligence involves a breach of duty of care resulting in harm to another person. Failing to notify the provider after a medication error represents negligence because it breaches the duty of care owed to the client and may result in harm if appropriate actions are not taken promptly to mitigate the error's effects.

D) Documenting false information in a client's medical record:

Documenting false information in a client's medical record is a form of falsifying documentation and can have serious consequences, including legal and professional repercussions. However, it does not directly relate to negligence unless the false documentation leads to harm or adverse outcomes for the client.