A charge nurse is receiving change-of-shift report. Which of the following situations should the charge nurse address first?
A.
The emergency department nurse is waiting to give report on a new admission.
B.
Two staff members have called to say they will be absent.
C.
Transport assistance is unavailable to take a client to occupational therapy.
D.
A nurse on the previous shift wrote an incident report about a medication error.
The Correct answer and Explanation is:
In the given scenario, the charge nurse should prioritize addressing option D: A nurse on the previous shift wrote an incident report about a medication error.
Explanation:
- Immediate Patient Safety and Legal Implications: Medication errors can have serious repercussions for patient safety and legal implications. Addressing this situation is crucial because it directly impacts patient care and safety. The charge nurse needs to ensure that any potential harm from the medication error is mitigated and that proper follow-up actions are taken. This includes reviewing the error, understanding its impact, and taking corrective measures to prevent future occurrences.
- Addressing the Medication Error: The charge nurse should first gather details about the medication error, including the type of error, the patient involved, and the immediate consequences. This involves reviewing the incident report, speaking with the nurse who reported the error, and potentially discussing the issue with the patient and their family if necessary. This process helps in understanding the severity of the error and in formulating an action plan to address the situation appropriately.
- Follow-Up Actions: The charge nurse must ensure that appropriate follow-up actions are taken. This might include notifying the healthcare provider, monitoring the patient for any adverse effects, and ensuring that any required documentation is completed. Additionally, it may involve reviewing and updating policies or procedures to prevent similar errors in the future.
- Balancing Other Issues: While the other issues listed are important, they do not have the immediate potential for serious patient harm or legal consequences that a medication error might. For example, waiting for a report on a new admission (A) can be managed after addressing the medication error, and staff absences (B) and transport issues (C) are operational concerns that can be handled through contingency planning.
In summary, the medication error represents an urgent issue with direct implications for patient safety and care quality, making it the highest priority for the charge nurse to address first.