Chapter 05: Medication Errors: Preventing and Responding

1. The nurse is reviewing medication errors. Which situation is an example of a medication error? a. A patient refuses her morning medications. b. A patient receives a double dose of a medication because the nurse did not cut the pill in half. c. A patient develops hives after having started an IV antibiotic 24 hours earlier. d. A patient complains of severe pain still present 60 minutes after a pain medication was given. - ANS: B A medication error is defined as a preventable adverse drug event that involves inappropriate medication use by a patient or health care provider. The other options are not preventable. The patient's refusing to take medications and complaining of pain after a medication is given are patient behaviors, and the development of hives is a possible allergic reaction. DIF: COGNITIVE LEVEL: Applying (Application) REF: p. 67 TOP: NURSING PROCESS: Implementation