A nurse is preparing to administer a topical medication to a client. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A.
Show the assistive personnel where to apply the medication.
B.
Ask the client when the previous nurse last applied the medication.
C.
Identify the client by comparing the medication administration record with the client’s room number.
D.
Compare the label of the medication container with the medication administration record three times.
The correct answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is D: Compare the label of the medication container with the medication administration record three times.
Explanation:
When administering medications, including topical ones, ensuring accurate medication administration is crucial for patient safety and effectiveness. This involves several key steps:
- Verification of Medication: The primary safety measure involves verifying that the correct medication is administered. This is done by comparing the medication label with the medication administration record (MAR) three times. This process helps prevent errors related to medication type, dose, and form. The first verification should occur when you retrieve the medication, the second when you prepare it, and the third before you apply it to the patient.
- Patient Identification: While identifying the patient is also essential, it’s typically done by comparing the patient’s identification band with the MAR and not solely based on the room number. Room numbers can be inaccurate or change, so relying solely on this is not recommended. Therefore, option C, which mentions identifying the client by comparing the MAR with the client’s room number, is not sufficient.
- Communication with Assistive Personnel: Option A involves showing assistive personnel where to apply the medication. Although delegation is a part of nursing duties, the responsibility of ensuring the correct medication and application remains with the nurse. The nurse should verify the medication and ensure it’s correctly applied, rather than merely instructing assistive personnel.
- Inquiry About Previous Applications: Option B, asking the client when the previous nurse last applied the medication, is not an ideal approach for medication verification. This method is less reliable because it depends on the client’s memory and might not align with the MAR.
In summary, option D is the most critical action because it ensures that the correct medication is given to the patient in the proper amount and form, which directly impacts patient safety and treatment efficacy.