Question

A nurse observes a coworker administering a medication several hours after it had been scheduled. When confronted, the coworker simply makes a dismissive joke and then charts the medication as given at the scheduled time. What should the witnessing nurse do?

1) Report the incident to the supervisor
2) Confront the coworker again and demand an explanation
3) Document the incident and the coworker's response
4) Seek guidance from a senior nurse or mentor
5) Discuss the situation with other colleagues
6) Follow the organization's policies and procedures for reporting medication errors

Answer 1

The witnessing nurse should document the incident, seek guidance from a senior nurse, and follow the organization's policies and procedures for reporting medication errors.

Step-by-step explanation:

In this situation, the witnessing nurse should take several important steps:

1. First, they should document the incident and the coworker's response. This will provide a record of the event for future reference.
2. Next, the nurse should seek guidance from a senior nurse or mentor. This will help them in understanding the best course of action to take.
3. Finally, the nurse should follow the organization's policies and procedures for reporting medication errors. This may involve reporting the incident to their supervisor or another designated authority.