End
1 :

The client is a 64-year-old female with a 3-day history of cough and chest pain. She recently began to have difficulty breathing. Cardiac causes of chest pain were ruled out with laboratory tests. The client will be admitted for presumed pneumonia. The client has a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus. She takes insulin glargine 12 units subcutaneously in the morning and 10 units subcutaneously in the evening.

0700

Insulin glargine 12 units given subcutaneously.

0900

Azithromycin 1 gram given PO.

1900

Insulin glargine 10 units given subcutaneously.

2000

Insulin glargine 10 units given subcutaneously.

Admit to the medical floor

Chest x-rays every morning

Oxygen 2 L/minute via nasal cannula

Regular diet

Insulin glargine 12

units subcutaneously every morning

Insulin glargine 10 units subcutaneously every evening

Sputum culture & sensitivity

Azithromycin 1 gram PO daily

Chest x-ray: Consolidation in right lower lobe consistent with pneumonia

The primary nurse went on break at 1845. The covering nurse gave insulin glargine and decided to manually document the dose but forgot to enter it into the electronic health record. The primary nurse came back from break and gave a second dose of insulin because of being unaware the covering nurse gave the prescribed dose.


Which medication error prevention technique(s) would have helped to avoid this error? Select all that apply.


Answer Options

Hint : ๐Ÿฉบ Always document immediately โ€” real-time charting prevents double dosing.

Correct Answers:

  • Document all medication in the electronic record as soon as it is given
  • Involve and educate clients in medication administration
  • Use at least 2 client identifiers before administering a dose


Rationale :

๐Ÿ’Ž Document all medication in the electronic record as soon as it is given

โœ”๏ธPrompt documentation is a critical safety step that prevents duplicate administration and miscommunication between nurses.

โœ”๏ธIn this scenario, the covering nurse manually recorded the insulin dose but failed to enter it into the EHR, which led the primary nurse to believe the dose had not been given.

โœ”๏ธImmediate electronic documentation ensures visibility for the entire healthcare team, reducing the risk of repeated or omitted doses, especially with high-alert medications like insulin.

โœ”๏ธElectronic systems often have safety checks or alerts that would have notified the nurse that the dose was already administered.

๐Ÿ’Ž Use at least 2 client identifiers before administering a dose

โœ”๏ธUsing two identifiers (e.g., name and date of birth) confirms that the medication is being administered to the correct patient and at the correct time.

โœ”๏ธThis practice also encourages the nurse to verify medication records before giving the drug, which might have revealed the earlier insulin dose.

โœ”๏ธThe โ€œRight patientโ€ and โ€œRight timeโ€ principles of the Five Rights of Medication Administration are upheld when identifiers are used properly.

โœ”๏ธConsistent verification minimizes administration errors in busy hospital environments or during shift changes.

๐Ÿ’Ž Involve and educate clients in medication administration

โœ”๏ธEducating patients about their medication schedule and purpose empowers them to be an active participant in their care.

โœ”๏ธThe client could have informed the returning nurse that the insulin had already been given at 1900, preventing the duplicate dose.

โœ”๏ธInvolving patients fosters a shared responsibility for safety, especially for those with chronic conditions like diabetes who are familiar with their medication timing.

โœ”๏ธThis aligns with the Joint Commissionโ€™s National Patient Safety Goals emphasizing patient involvement as a layer of protection against medication errors.


Distractor Analysis :

Rationale for Incorrect Options to be Available Soon

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