A charge nurse on a medical-surgical unit is assisting with the emergency response plan following an external disaster in the community.

In anticipation of multiple client admissions, which of the following current clients should the nurse recommend for early discharge?

Choice A reason:

Completing an incident report is not the correct action. An incident report should be completed as part of the hospital's protocol to document the medication error and ensure appropriate follow-up and investigation.

Choice B reason:

Checking the client for indications of bleeding is the correct action to be taken. In this situation, the nurse's first priority should be to assess the client for indications of bleeding, as the client received a significantly higher dose of IV heparin than prescribed. Heparin is an anticoagulant medication used to prevent blood clots, and an overdose can increase the risk of bleeding.

After administering the wrong dose of medication, the nurse's immediate concern is the client's safety and well-being. Checking for signs of bleeding, such as petechiae, ecchymosis, hematomas, bleeding gums, melena (black, tarry stools), haematuria (blood in urine), or any other unusual bleeding, is crucial.

Choice C reason:

Monitor the client's aPTT levels: This is not the correct action to be taken. Monitoring the client's activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) levels is essential to assess the client's coagulation status and determine if the overdose of heparin has affected their clotting ability. The healthcare provider may adjust the heparin dosage based on the aPTT levels.

Choice D reason:

Notify the risk manager: This is not the correct action to be taken. The risk manager or appropriate supervisor should be informed about the medication error as soon as possible to initiate a thorough review of the incident and take necessary steps to prevent similar errors in the future.

The correct answer is choiceb. Instruct the client to notify the provider if diarrhea develops.

Choice A rationale:

Infusing penicillin G over 10 minutes is not recommended as it may cause adverse reactions.The infusion rate should be based on the specific guidelines for the medication and patient condition.

Choice B rationale:

Diarrhea can be a sign of a serious side effect called Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea, which can occur with antibiotic use.It is important for the client to notify the provider if this symptom develops.

Choice C rationale:

Penicillin G should be stored according to the manufacturer’s instructions, which typically do not include refrigeration after reconstitution.Incorrect storage can affect the medication’s efficacy.

Choice D rationale:

Checking for a sulfa allergy is not relevant for penicillin G administration.Sulfa allergies are related to sulfonamide antibiotics, not penicillins.