The nurse is preparing to administer medications through a tube.
Which of the following should she remember before administering the medications?

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.

Choice A rationale

The knee joint, a modified hinge joint, primarily facilitates movement within the sagittal plane. Flexion involves decreasing the angle between the femur and tibia, bending the knee, while extension involves increasing this angle, straightening the knee. These movements are achieved through the coordinated action of muscles like the quadriceps femoris and hamstrings, acting on the condyles of the femur and tibia.

Choice B rationale

Inversion and eversion are movements specific to the ankle and foot. Inversion involves turning the sole of the foot inward, towards the midline of the body, while eversion involves turning the sole of the foot outward, away from the midline. These movements are mediated by the subtalar and transverse tarsal joints, not the knee.

Choice C rationale

Supination and pronation are rotatory movements primarily associated with the forearm and hand. Supination involves rotating the forearm so the palm faces anteriorly or superiorly, while pronation involves rotating it so the palm faces posteriorly or inferiorly. These actions are controlled by muscles acting on the radius and ulna, not the knee joint.

Choice D rationale

Circumduction is a complex movement combining flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction, commonly seen in ball-and-socket joints like the shoulder or hip. Rotation, where a bone pivots around its own longitudinal axis, is also more prominent in these joints. While the knee has minimal rotational capability when flexed, it's not a primary movement.