A nurse is assisting with the care of a client who has hearing loss and has questions regarding their medication. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

This situation involves a medication error that could potentially harm the client, and it should be reported through an incident report.

The following examples may not require an incident report:

A nurse discovers that a client's family member has administered a PCA dose. PCA (Patient-Controlled Analgesia) is a method of pain management that allows the client to self-administer pain medication within predetermined limits. If a family member administers the PCA dose without proper authorization or understanding, it is a safety concern that should be reported.

A nurse observes a client vomiting after receiving an oral pain medication. While this situation should be assessed and managed appropriately, it does not necessarily warrant an incident report unless there are additional factors or complications involved.

A nurse observes another nurse remove wrist restraints one at a time from a client who is currently calm. This situation may raise concerns regarding proper restraint removal techniques or potential safety issues, but it does not inherently indicate an immediate need for an incident report. However, if the nurse's actions were contrary to policy or posed a risk to the client's safety, it should be reported.

The correct answer is: a. Clean the stoma using an inward to outward circular motion.

Title: Choice A reason: Cleaning the stoma with an inward to outward circular motion is a recommended practice to prevent infection and ensure that any debris or secretions are cleared away from the tracheostomy site. This method helps to minimize the risk of introducing pathogens directly into the stoma and is considered a best practice in tracheostomy care.

Title: Choice B reason: Cleansing the inner cannula with isopropyl alcohol is not recommended because it can cause irritation to the tracheal mucosa. Instead, sterile saline is typically used for cleaning the inner cannula to avoid any potential damage to the tracheal tissues and to maintain a safe and comfortable environment for the patient.

Title: Choice C reason: Ensuring at least three finger widths of space under tracheostomy ties is not the standard practice. The recommended space is to allow one to two finger widths under the tracheostomy ties to ensure they are secure but not too tight, which could lead to skin breakdown or discomfort for the patient.

Title: Choice D reason: Preparing sterile supplies should be done before removing the inner cannula, not after. This is to ensure that all necessary supplies are ready to use immediately after the inner cannula is removed, minimizing the time the stoma is open and reducing the risk of infection.