A registered nurse interprets that a scribbled medication order reads 25 mg. The nurse administers 25 mg of the medication to a patient and then discovers that the dose was incorrectly interpreted and should have been 15 mg. Who is ultimately responsible for the error?

Nurse

Health care provider

Hospital

Pharmacist

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

A: The nurse is ultimately responsible for the error. Nurses are responsible for ensuring the correct administration of medications, which includes verifying the correct dosage. When a nurse administers medication, they must double-check the order, especially if it is unclear or illegible. In this case, the nurse misinterpreted the scribbled order and administered an incorrect dose, making them accountable for the error. Nurses are trained to seek clarification if there is any doubt about a medication order to prevent such mistakes.

B: The health care provider, while responsible for prescribing the medication, is not ultimately responsible for the administration error in this scenario. The provider’s role is to ensure that the prescription is clear and accurate. However, if the order is unclear, it is the nurse’s responsibility to seek clarification before administering the medication. The health care provider would be responsible if the error was due to a prescribing mistake, but in this case, the error occurred during the administration phase.

C: The hospital, as an institution, provides the environment and resources for patient care but is not directly responsible for individual medication administration errors. The hospital’s role includes ensuring that systems are in place for safe medication practices, such as proper training and protocols. However, the responsibility for the error lies with the individual who administered the medication incorrectly.

D: The pharmacist’s role is to dispense medications accurately and provide information about the medication. While pharmacists can catch potential errors in prescriptions, they are not responsible for the administration of the medication. In this case, the pharmacist would not be held accountable for the nurse’s misinterpretation and incorrect administration of the medication.

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A: 20 mg is incorrect and represents a significant overdose. It is not an appropriate transcription for two tenths of a milligram.

B: 0.20 mg is not the best practice because it can be misread as 20 mg if the decimal point is missed. Leading zeros should be used without trailing zeros to prevent errors.

C: 0.2 mg is the correct transcription. It clearly represents two tenths of a milligram and minimizes the risk of misinterpretation.

D: 2.0 mg is incorrect and represents a tenfold overdose. It is not an appropriate transcription for two tenths of a milligram.

A. Lower the head of the client’s bed. B. Check the client’s gag reflex. C. Remove the client’s peripheral IV. D. Check the client for bladder distention.

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A: Lowering the head of the client’s bed is not appropriate in this situation. It does not address the safety concern related to swallowing.

B: Checking the client’s gag reflex is the correct action. This ensures that the client can safely swallow ice chips without the risk of aspiration.

C: Removing the client’s peripheral IV is not related to the request for ice chips and is unnecessary unless there is a specific reason to do so.

D: Checking the client for bladder distention is not relevant to the request for ice chips and does not address the immediate concern of safe swallowing.

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A registered nurse interprets that a scribbled medication order reads 25 mg. The nurse administers 25 mg of the medication to a patient and then discovers that the dose was incorrectly interpreted and should have been 15 mg. Who is ultimately responsible for the error?

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is preparing an in-service program about preventing medication errors when transcribing a prescription. The nurse is using a dosage example of two tenths of a milligram. Which of the following examples should the nurse use to show appropriate transcription of this dosage?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative and has a peripheral IV, and is requesting ice chips. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

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A registered nurse interprets that a scribbled medication order reads 25 mg. The nurse administers 25 mg of the medication to a patient and then discovers that the dose was incorrectly interpreted and should have been 15 mg. Who is ultimately responsible for the error?