Question

a nurse is scheduled to administer a medication to a client who is currently in the bathroom. which of the following actions should the nurse plan to take?

leave the medication at the client’s bedside.

prepare the medication to administer later.

document the medication was given prior to administration.

come back in a few minutes to administer the medication.

Explanation:

• Leaving medication at the bedside (first option) is unsafe as it can be tampered with or the client might take it incorrectly.
• Preparing to administer later (second option) is not ideal as the nurse should follow the schedule and ensure timely administration, and also, preparing medication and holding it for later can compromise its integrity or lead to errors.
• Documenting the medication was given prior to administration (third option) is unethical and against nursing practice standards as documentation should reflect what was actually done.
• Coming back in a few minutes (fourth option) is appropriate because the client is temporarily unavailable (in the bathroom), so the nurse can return when the client is available to safely administer the medication, ensuring proper administration and adherence to safety protocols.

Answer:

D. Come back in a few minutes to administer the medication.