A nurse on a medical surgical unit is caring for a group of clients with the assistance of a licensed practical nurse (LPN) and an assistive personnel. Which of the following tasks should the nurse assign to the LPN?

A. Observe staff medication administration procedures: While observation can provide valuable insights into workflow and potential areas for improvement, it may not address the underlying causes of medication errors or provide comprehensive data for quality improvement efforts.
B. Require staff to complete a medication administration review module: Education and training are important components of improving medication safety, but they may not be the most
immediate or effective response to addressing an elevated rate of medication errors.

C. Identify data that should be collected related to medication errors: This is the correct answer.

Before implementing interventions to address medication errors, it is important to gather comprehensive data on the types, causes, and frequency of errors. This data will help identify specific areas for improvement and guide the development of targeted interventions.
D. Re-evaluate staff performance in relation to the established standard: While ongoing evaluation of staff performance is important for maintaining quality care, it may not be the most appropriate first step when addressing an elevated rate of medication errors. Gathering data on medication errors and their contributing factors is essential for understanding the root causes of the problem and developing effective solutions.

- A. A client with a compromised airway requires immediate intervention to secure breathing, which is a top priority in triage situations. Without a patent airway, the client is at high risk for suffocation and rapid deterioration.
- B. A client who experienced a brief loss of consciousness may require observation and further assessment, but does not necessarily need immediate life-saving intervention if consciousness has been regained and there are no other signs of airway, breathing, or circulation compromise.
- C. A client with fixed pupils may indicate severe brain injury and, depending on the context, could be considered for a red tag. However, without additional information on breathing and circulation status, it is not the most definitive choice for immediate intervention.
- D. A client with major burns covering 70% of their body is critically injured and will require extensive medical care, but the immediate life-threatening issue in a triage situation is the airway compromise, not the burns themselves.