Patient Data

Exhibits

The nurse pulled a bottle of potassium from the automated medication administration system. They went to the medication room to pull up the medication, and immediately went to the client's room to administer the dose. The nurse did not realize that they needed to calculate and pull the appropriate dose from the bottle and gave the entire volume for a total of 40 mEq. Which medication error prevention techniques would have helped to avoid this error? Select all that apply

Use at least 2 client identifiers before administering a dose

Document all medication as soon as it is given

Question unusually large or small doses

Double check the dosage of high risk medications with another nurse

Involve and educate clients in medication administration

Answer and Explanation

Correct Answer : C,D

A. Use at least 2 client identifiers before administering a dose – This is a critical step in preventing medication errors, but it would not have prevented the error in this scenario. The issue was with the dosage of the medication, not the identification of the client.
B. Document all medication as soon as it is given – While documentation is important for patient safety, it does not directly address the error of giving the wrong dose. Proper calculation and verification of the dose before administration are more effective in preventing this type of error.
C. Question unusually large or small doses – This is a key technique for preventing medication errors. The nurse should have questioned the unusually large dose of potassium, which was not calculated based on the client's weight and the prescribed amount. This would have alerted the nurse to the error before administering the medication.
D. Double check the dosage of high-risk medications with another nurse – Potassium is considered a high-risk medication, and double-checking the dosage with another nurse would have been an effective safety measure. This technique helps to catch errors in dosage calculations, especially with medications that have narrow therapeutic windows like potassium.
E. Involve and educate clients in medication administration – While involving and educating clients is important for overall safety and understanding, it is not a technique that would have helped prevent this particular medication error. The error was related to the nurse’s calculation and administration of the dose, not the client's involvement.

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A. A private room with both contact and airborne precautions is appropriate for a client with varicella zoster virus (chickenpox or shingles in an immunocompromised state). This virus can spread through direct contact with lesions and airborne transmission of respiratory droplets.

B. A semiprivate room with a roommate who has the same diagnosis and airborne precautions could be considered if the roommate also has the same strain of the virus, but a private room is generally preferred to minimize cross-contamination risks.

C. A private room with both standard and droplet precautions is insufficient. Airborne precautions are necessary because varicella zoster virus can spread via airborne routes.

D. A semiprivate room with a roommate who has the same diagnosis and contact precautions does not account for the airborne transmission risk, making this option inappropriate.

A. Reduce the stimuli in the area before continuing the teaching. B. Reassure the client that the skill is not difficult to learn. C. Provide the client with step-by-step written instructions. D. Demonstrate the skill, speaking slowly and using simple terms.

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A. Reduce the stimuli in the area before continuing the teaching is the best action. Sensory overload can interfere with a client's ability to learn effectively. By reducing distractions and environmental stimuli, the nurse can create a more conducive learning environment.

B. Reassure the client that the skill is not difficult to learn may be helpful, but it does not address the immediate issue of sensory overload. The client needs to be in an environment where they can focus and process information before reassurance is effective.

C. Provide the client with step-by-step written instructions may be helpful later, but in the context of sensory overload, the priority is to first reduce the stimuli. Written instructions can be given once the client is in a calmer state.

D. Demonstrate the skill, speaking slowly and using simple terms is a helpful teaching strategy, but if the client is experiencing sensory overload, the first step should be to reduce the environmental stimuli. Once the environment is conducive to learning, the nurse can proceed with demonstrating the skill.

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Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A client is being admitted to the unit with a varicella zoster virus infection. Which room should the charge nurse assign to the client?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

While teaching a client how to perform a skill, the nurse determines that the client is experiencing sensory overload and is unable to learn effectively. Which action should the nurse implement?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

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