A nurse caring for a client who has a prescription for morphine 5 mg IM accidentally administers the whole 10 mg from the single-dose vial. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
Report the incident to the pharmacy.
Notify the client's provider.
Measure the client's respiratory rate.
Complete an incident report.
The Correct Answer is C
A. Report the incident to the pharmacy. While the pharmacy may need to be informed, client safety is the priority. The immediate concern is monitoring the client for opioid overdose effects.
B. Notify the client's provider. The provider should be notified, but assessing the client's condition comes first so that the nurse can provide accurate information about any potential adverse effects.
C. Measure the client's respiratory rate. The priority action is to assess the client for signs of opioid toxicity, especially respiratory depression. Morphine can cause decreased respiratory rate, sedation, and hypotension. If the respiratory rate is dangerously low (e.g., below 12 breaths per minute), interventions such as administering naloxone (Narcan) may be necessary.
D. Complete an incident report. An incident report should be completed, but client safety and assessment take priority before documentation.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. "I should close all doors and windows on the unit." –
This action is part of the "C" (Confine) step, which should be done before attempting to extinguish the fire.
B. "I should evacuate clients who are in immediate danger." –
Rescuing clients is the first step and should be done immediately.
C. "I should activate the facility's fire alarm system." –
Activating the alarm is the second step after rescuing clients.
D. "I should extinguish small fires if it is safe to do so." –
Extinguishing the fire is the last action in the fire safety protocol and should only be attempted if the fire is small and controllable.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. "Although this is your first incident, we will have to terminate your employment." This response is punitive and does not align with a just culture, which seeks to identify the cause of errors rather than immediately disciplining staff.
B. "We will review the incident report to determine the cause of the missed medication." This aligns with just culture principles by focusing on finding the root cause (e.g., workload issues, system inefficiencies) rather than blaming the nurse.
C. "I will need to report this incident to the state board of nursing." A missed medication dose that caused no harm typically does not require reporting to the state board. Just culture focuses on improving processes rather than unnecessary punishment.
D. "The facility's legal team will be contacting you to discuss the incident." Involving legal action for a minor, non-harmful event is excessive and contradicts just culture, which emphasizes education, accountability, and system improvements over legal consequences.
Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.
Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today
Report Wrong Answer on the Current Question
Do you disagree with the answer? If yes, what is your expected answer? Explain.
Kindly be descriptive with the issue you are facing.