A nurse is to administer one nose drop to each nostril of a school-aged child.
Which action should the nurse perform as part of this procedure?

Step 1 is convert grams to milligrams. 1 g = 1000 mg.

Step 2 is calculate how many milliliters will the nurse administer. 800 mg ÷ (1000 mg ÷ 2.5 mL) = 800 mg ÷ 400 mg/mL = 2 mL.

Choice A rationale

Documenting the error and notifying the supervisor are necessary steps, but they are not the most immediate or comprehensive actions. The priority in a medication error is patient safety, which requires immediate medical assessment and intervention. This step follows after direct patient care and notification of the physician.

Choice B rationale

Administering the original drug and observing for adverse reactions addresses part of the problem, but it does not prioritize immediate medical consultation regarding the mistakenly administered drug. The focus should be on the potential effects of the incorrect medication and timely intervention to mitigate harm.

Choice C rationale

The most appropriate and immediate action is to call the physician to inform them of the medication error. This allows the physician to assess the potential harm to the patient based on the specific drug, dosage, and patient's condition, and to order appropriate interventions. An incident report is crucial for organizational learning and quality improvement.

Choice D rationale

Deciding not to act based on a quick check of allergies or contraindications is highly negligent and unsafe. Even if there are no apparent immediate contraindications, any medication error carries inherent risks and requires a thorough medical evaluation by the physician. This approach prioritizes patient safety over documentation and investigation.