During morning medication administration, the nurse discovered an error on the electronic Medication Administration Record (MAR) before the medication was given.
What is the appropriate action for this “near-miss”?
Report the near-miss using the facility’s recommended protocol, and correct the error on the MAR
Report the near-miss to the next shift before the next dose is due
Correct the MAR error but say nothing because nothing happened
Notify the pharmacy about the error they almost caused .
The Correct Answer is A
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.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
The statement “The intravenous medication will have delayed absorption into the body’s tissues” is incorrect. Intravenous (IV) therapy is administering fluids directly into a vein. It benefits treatment by enabling water, medication, blood, or nutrients to access the body faster through the circulatory system. This bypasses the gastric system so the body can take on more fluids quickly. Therefore, the absorption of intravenous medication into the body’s tissues is not delayed but rather immediate.
Choice B rationale:
The statement “The action of the medication will begin sooner when given intravenously” is correct. Administering a medication intravenously eliminates the process of drug absorption and breakdown by directly depositing it into the blood. This results in the immediate elevation of serum levels and high concentration in vital organs, such as the heart, brain, and kidneys. Therefore, the action of the medication begins sooner when given intravenously.
Choice C rationale:
The statement “The medication will cause fewer adverse effects when given intravenously” is not necessarily true. While some medications might cause fewer adverse effects when given intravenously, this is not a general rule for all medications. The adverse effects of a medication depend on various factors including the type of medication, the dose, the patient’s health condition, and more.
Choice D rationale:
The statement “There is a lower chance of allergic reactions when drugs are given intravenously” is not necessarily true. The chance of allergic reactions depends on various factors including the type of drug, the patient’s immune response, previous exposure to the drug, and more. It’s not related to the route of administration.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are used extensively for the treatment of gastric acid-related disorders, often over the long term, which raises the potential for clinically significant drug interactions in patients receiving concomitant medications.
However, there is no specific mention of a significant interaction between PPIs and aminoglycosides.
Choice B rationale:
Aminoglycoside antibiotics and calcium channel blockers can interact at the neuromuscular junctions. This interaction is of clinical significance because when these agents are given concurrently during the perioperative period they may lead to respiratory depression or prolonged apnea. However, this is not directly related to the therapeutic effect of aminoglycosides, but rather a side effect of their combined use.
Choice C rationale:
The loop-diuretics (ethacrynic acid, furosemide, bumetamide) and aminoglycoside antibiotics (kanamycin, gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin, etc.) are important drugs frequently used to treat seriously ill patients. Not uncommonly both types of drugs are given to the same patient exposing that patient to the risk of a hearing loss (ototoxicity)5. In addition, the risk of ototoxicity could be enhanced by the concomitant use of loop diuretics and aminoglycoside antibiotics.
Choice D rationale:
Phenytoin is a medication used to treat seizures. It has a complex pharmacokinetic profile and can interact with many other drugs. However, there is no specific mention of a significant interaction between phenytoin and aminoglycosides.
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