A nurse is preparing an in-service for a group of nurses about malpractice issues in nursing. Which of the following examples should the nurse include in the teaching as an example of malpractice?
Placing a yellow bracelet on a client who is at risk for falls
Leaving a nasogastric tube clamped after administering oral medication.
Administering potassium via IV bolus
Documenting communication with a provider in the progress notes of the client’s medical record.
The Correct Answer is C
The correct answer is choice C. Administering potassium via IV bolus is an example of malpractice in nursing.
This is because potassium is a medication that can cause cardiac arrest if given too quickly or in high doses. A nurse who administers potassium via IV bolus is not providing the standard of care that a similarly trained nurse would have offered under the same circumstances.
This could result in harm or death to the patient.
Choice A is wrong because placing a yellow bracelet on a client who is at risk for falls is not malpractice, but rather a safety measure.
A yellow bracelet indicates that the client needs assistance with mobility and should not be left alone. This is a common practice in many health care facilities to prevent falls and injuries.
Choice B is wrong because leaving a nasogastric tube clamped after administering oral medication is not malpractice, but rather a mistake.
A nasogastric tube is a tube that goes through the nose and into the stomach to deliver nutrition or medication.
It should be unclamped after giving oral medication to allow the medication to enter the stomach and prevent reflux or aspiration. However, this error does not rise to the level of malpractice unless it causes harm to the patient, such as vomiting, choking, or infection.
Choice D is wrong because documenting communication with a provider in the progress notes of the client’s medical record is not malpractice, but rather a good practice. A nurse
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Correct Answer is D
Explanation
The correct answer is choice D. Shuffling gait. This is because shuffling gait is a common manifestation of pseudoparkinsonism, which is a condition that mimics the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease due to the use of certain medications that block dopamine receptors, such as haloperidol. Pseudoparkinsonism can cause slowed movements, muscle stiffness, tremor, and postural instability.
Choice A. Nonreactive pupils is wrong because this is not a typical feature of pseudoparkinsonism or Parkinson’s disease.
Nonreactive pupils can be caused by other conditions, such as brain injury, drugs, or eye diseases.
Choice B. Serpentine limb movement is wrong because this is a characteristic of tardive dyskinesia, another drug-induced movement disorder that can result from long-term use of dopamine receptor blocking agents. Tardive dyskinesia causes involuntary movements of the face, tongue, and limbs that are often writhing or twisting.
Choice C. Smacking lips is wrong because this is also a sign of tardive dyskinesia, not pseudoparkinsonism. Smacking lips is one of the orofacial movements that can occur in tardive dyskinesia due to abnormal muscle contractions.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason
The client is observed displaying a shuffling gait while walking in the hall is the correct answer. The nurse should recognize that observing a shuffling gait in a client who is taking antipsychotic medication is an adverse effect that must be reported to the healthcare provider. A shuffling gait is a movement disorder known as parkinsonism, which can be a side effect of some antipsychotic medications, particularly first-generation or typical antipsychotics.
Parkinsonism includes symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease, such as a shuffling walk, muscle stiffness, tremors, and difficulty with balance and coordination. It can occur as a result of blocking dopamine receptors in the brain, leading to an imbalance in dopamine levels.
Choice B reason:
The client mumbling quietly while alone is not correct because in the day room may be related to the symptoms of schizophrenia, and it does not indicate an adverse effect of the antipsychotic medication.
Choice C reason:
The client feeling light-headed when standing up quickly is not correct and it may be related to postural hypotension, which can be a side effect of some antipsychotic medications. While it should be monitored and reported if persistent or severe, it is not as urgent as reporting a shuffling gait.
Choice D reason:
The client stating that being in the sun hurts their eyes does not necessarily indicate an adverse effect of the antipsychotic medication. It may be related to other factors or unrelated to the medication.
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