20 minutes after receiving her noon dose of oral medication, Mrs. Rooney vomits. to assure accuracy in medication administration the first thing nurse Mulligan should do is to:
- A. report the situation to the head nurse
- B. contact the physician
- C. administer another dose of medication
- D. examine the vomits for signs of medication.
The first thing Nurse Mulligan should do in this situation is: D. Examine the vomits for signs of medication.
Here's why:
C. Administering another dose of medication:
This should not be done without first assessing whether the original dose was absorbed or expelled. Administering another dose immediately could lead to a potential overdose.
A. Reporting to the head nurse:
While informing the head nurse might be necessary later, it's crucial to first assess the immediate situation and determine the potential risk to the patient.
B. Contacting the physician:
Similar to informing the head nurse, contacting the physician might be required depending on the medication or patient's condition, but first examining the vomitus for medication presence is critical.
Original Dose Was Absorbed:
Examining the vomitus for signs of medication (such as whole tablets or pill fragments) is the quickest and most direct way to determine if the original dose was absorbed. This information is crucial for deciding the next course of action, which could involve:
- Not administering another dose:
If the medication was completely expelled, a subsequent dose may not be necessary.
- Administering a partial dose:
If only part of the medication was expelled, a partial dose might be appropriate after consulting with the physician or following specific protocols if available.
- Monitoring the patient closely:
Regardless of the presence of medication in the vomitus, monitoring the patient for potential side effects or complications is essential.
Therefore, examining the vomitus for signs of medication is the first and most crucial step for Nurse Mulligan to take in this situation, before making any further decisions about medication administration or informing other healthcare professionals.
Remember, this is just general information. Always refer to specific hospital protocols and consult with the physician or senior nursing staff for guidance in such situations.
