A patient has been prescribed a 2-week course of antifungal suppositories for a vaginal yeast infection.
She asks the nurse if there is an alternative to this medication, stating, “I don’t want to do this for 2 weeks!” What could be a possible alternative in this situation?

Choice A rationale:

Reporting a near-miss using the facility’s recommended protocol and correcting the error on the MAR is the appropriate action. A “near-miss” in healthcare is a situation where an error could have happened, but didn’t, either by chance or timely intervention. It’s crucial to report these incidents as they provide valuable information for risk management and quality improvement. By analyzing near-misses, healthcare facilities can identify potential hazards and take preventive measures to ensure patient safety. Correcting the error on the MAR is also important to prevent the same mistake from happening in the future.

Choice B rationale:

Reporting the near-miss to the next shift before the next dose is due is not the best course of action. While it’s important to communicate any potential issues to the next shift, it’s more crucial to report the incident immediately using the facility’s recommended protocol. This allows for a timely investigation and corrective action. Waiting until the next shift could delay these processes and potentially put patient safety at risk.

Choice C rationale:

Correcting the MAR error but saying nothing because nothing happened is not an appropriate response. Even though the error did not result in any harm, it’s still important to report it. Near-misses are often indicators of underlying system issues that need to be addressed. By not reporting the incident, the opportunity to improve patient safety and prevent future errors is lost.

Choice D rationale:

Notifying the pharmacy about the error they almost caused is not the most appropriate action. While it’s important to communicate with the pharmacy if they were involved in the error, the first step should always be to report the near-miss using the facility’s recommended protocol. This ensures that the incident is properly documented and investigated, and that appropriate corrective actions are taken.

Choice A rationale:

Polyuria, which is frequent or excessive urination, is not typically a symptom of hypoglycemia. It is more commonly associated with hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar levels.

Choice B rationale:

Sweating is indeed a common symptom of hypoglycemia. When blood sugar levels fall too low, the body may respond by sweating as it releases adrenaline in response to the hypoglycemic state.

Choice C rationale:

Tachycardia, or a fast heartbeat, is another common symptom of hypoglycemia. This is part of the body’s response to low blood sugar levels, as it releases adrenaline to try to raise these levels.

Choice D rationale:

Blurry vision can be a symptom of hypoglycemia. When blood sugar levels fall, it can affect the ability of the eyes to focus, leading to blurry vision.

Choice E rationale:

Polydipsia, or excessive thirst, is not typically a symptom of hypoglycemia. Like polyuria, it is more commonly associated with hyperglycemia.