Medwatch is a way of reporting adverse effects of a medication?

A. Notify the charge nurse that patients may have received inappropriate medication dosages.
Jumping to conclusions about inappropriate dosages without first investigating the rationale for the dosing is premature and could cause unnecessary alarm.

B. Evaluate the laboratory values of each patient to determine liver and kidney function as a possible reason for decreased dosages. Lower dosages are often prescribed for older adults due to decreased liver and kidney function, which can affect drug metabolism and excretion. Evaluating lab values ensures that these dosages are appropriate and safe.

C. Do not worry about the discrepancy because this is not the nurse's unit.
Ignoring the discrepancy is not appropriate, as it’s important for all nurses to advocate for patient safety, regardless of the unit.

D. Call the nursing supervisor to investigate the nurse's concerns.
The nursing supervisor may need to be involved, but the first step is to review the relevant clinical data (lab values) to assess the situation.

A. "What do the pills look like?" This is a critical question because identifying the medication will guide the nurse in determining the appropriate course of action. However, it should not be the initial response because emergency services should be alerted immediately if the child's life is potentially at risk.

B. “Ask if there is medication to induce vomiting in the household.” Inducing vomiting is not recommended without knowing the specific substance ingested, as it could cause more harm, particularly if the substance is caustic or can lead to aspiration. This is not the best initial action.

C. "Have the child drink a glass of milk." While milk may sometimes be recommended to coat the stomach, this advice is not universally appropriate, particularly without knowing the substance ingested. Milk could interfere with the absorption of some medications or exacerbate the condition.

D. "I'm calling emergency personnel for you now." This is the best response as it ensures immediate medical help is on the way. Time is critical in poisoning cases, and the child may need immediate intervention from professionals.