what is the most appropriate action for a nurse to take when a medication error occurs
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Nursing Elites

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RN ATI Capstone Proctored Comprehensive Assessment A

1. What is the most appropriate action for a healthcare professional to take when a medication error occurs?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: When a medication error occurs, the most appropriate action for a healthcare professional is to report the error to the healthcare provider immediately. This is crucial for ensuring prompt corrective action to mitigate any potential harm to the patient. Documenting the error is important but should come after reporting it to the relevant authorities. Apologizing to the patient is important for maintaining trust and communication but should not take precedence over reporting and addressing the error. Continuing to administer the medication without addressing the error is unsafe and goes against patient safety protocols.

2. Which of the following is a critical nursing action when managing a patient with a chest tube?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: "Ensure the chest tube is connected to a closed drainage system." This is a critical nursing action when managing a patient with a chest tube because it is essential for proper drainage and to prevent complications such as air leaks or infections. Option A is incorrect because keeping the chest tube clamped at all times would prevent proper drainage and could lead to complications. Option C is incorrect as emptying the chest tube drainage system should be done based on assessment findings rather than a fixed time interval. Option D is incorrect because disconnecting the chest tube when the patient is ambulating can lead to complications like a pneumothorax.

3. A nurse is caring for a client who had a total thyroidectomy and has a serum calcium level of 7.6 mg/dL. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Tingling of the extremities. Tingling is a common symptom of hypocalcemia, which is expected with low calcium levels after a thyroidectomy. Option A, shortened QT intervals, is associated with hypercalcemia rather than hypocalcemia. Option B, hypoactive deep tendon reflexes, is not typically related to hypocalcemia. Option D, constipation, is not a common finding associated with low calcium levels.

4. A patient is receiving a blood transfusion and develops chills, a headache, and low back pain. What is the nurse’s priority action?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is to stop the transfusion (Choice B). The symptoms described - chills, headache, and low back pain - are indicative of a transfusion reaction. The priority action is to immediately stop the transfusion to prevent further complications such as more severe reactions like hemolytic reactions or anaphylaxis. Administering acetaminophen (Choice A) may help with symptoms but does not address the underlying cause. Slowing the transfusion rate (Choice C) may not be sufficient if a serious transfusion reaction is occurring. Administering antihistamines (Choice D) is not the priority in this situation; stopping the transfusion takes precedence to ensure patient safety.

5. A nurse is teaching a patient with hypertension about the DASH diet. What is the most important instruction to include?

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is to encourage the patient to reduce sodium intake. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet emphasizes reducing sodium intake to help manage hypertension. While increasing fruits and vegetables (Choice A) is important in the DASH diet, reducing sodium intake is considered more crucial. Limiting saturated fats (Choice B) is beneficial but not as critical as reducing sodium. Avoiding caffeine (Choice D) is not a specific recommendation of the DASH diet for managing hypertension.

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