A nurse is teaching a client about the importance of reporting any medication errors that may occur during hospitalization. Which of the following statements by the client indicates a need for further education?

This is the safest action to take when there is a discrepancy between the barcode and the label of a medication. It prevents administering the wrong medication to a client, which could cause harm or adverse effects. It also alerts the pharmacy of a possible error in dispensing or labelling the medication.

Incorrect choices:

a) Administer the medication as prescribed and document the discrepancy: This is not a safe action to take when there is a discrepancy between the barcode and the label of a medication. It could result in administering the wrong medication to a client, which could cause harm or adverse effects. It also does not address the source of the error or prevent its recurrence.

b) Check the medication label and the prescription order again: This is not a sufficient action to take when there is a discrepancy between the barcode and the label of a medication. It could lead to confirmation bias, where the nurse overlooks or ignores the discrepancy and assumes that the medication is correct. It also does not address the source of the error or prevent its recurrence.

c) Contact the pharmacist and verify the medication: This is not an appropriate action to take when there is a discrepancy between the barcode and the label of a medication. It could delay the administration of the medication or create confusion about which medication is correct. It also does not address the source of the error or prevent its recurrence.

This statement shows that the nursing student understands the importance of reporting errors or near misses, which are events that could have resulted in harm but did not. Reporting errors or near misses helps to identify system failures, root causes, and contributing factors that can be addressed to prevent similar errors in the future. Reporting errors or near misses also fosters a culture of safety, transparency, and learning in healthcare organizations.

Incorrect choices:

a) I should follow my intuition when making clinical decisions: This statement shows that the nursing student does not understand how intuition can lead to cognitive biases, heuristics, or shortcuts that can impair clinical reasoning and judgment. Intuition can be influenced by emotions, assumptions, stereotypes, or previous experiences that may not be relevant or applicable to the current situation. Nursing students should use evidence-based practice, critical thinking, and clinical guidelines when making clinical decisions.

b) I should use abbreviations and acronyms to save time when documenting: This statement shows that the nursing student does not understand how abbreviations and acronyms can cause communication errors, confusion, or misinterpretation among health care providers. Abbreviations and acronyms can have multiple meanings, vary by context or setting, or be easily mistaken for other words or symbols. Nursing students should use clear, concise, and standardized terminology when documenting.

d) I should work longer shifts to reduce handoffs and transitions of care: This statement shows that the nursing student does not understand how working longer shifts can increase fatigue, stress, burnout, or distraction among health care providers. Working longer shifts can impair physical, mental, and emotional well-being, as well as performance, attention, memory, and decision-making skills. Nursing students should work reasonable hours, take breaks, and ensure adequate rest and sleep. They should also use effective handoff techniques, such as SBAR (Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendation).