Midterm Proficiency Challenge

Rationale The roommate, a patient’s personal belongings, and asking another nurse are options that leave room for error when getting accurate identifiers prior to medication administration. Reviewing the patient’s ID band and asking a family member the patient’s name and date of birth are the most accurate actions for ensuring the right patient when the patient is confused. Medication errors can cause serious adverse outcomes to the patient. Which errors are considered nurse errors? Rationale Nurses play an essential role in ensuring patient safety. Dosage calculations, correct drug selection, and proper administration techniques are all essential nursing tasks. Legibility is a prescription error, especially if the prescription is handwritten. The frequency of administration is also considered a prescription error. Which is the best question to use first when interviewing a patient about medications he or she takes? Legibility Dose calculation Prescription frequency Drug selection Administration technique What are the names and doses of all of your medications? Which nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs do you take for your hypertension? Which vitamins or supplements do you take that you get from your local pharmacy? Which other medications do you take that you haven’t mentioned?