What nursing intervention is most effective in preventing injury ...

[anjilletteb]

What nursing intervention is most effective in preventing injury to a patient following administration of epidural anesthesia?
 
  a. Keeping the reversal agent in a syringe in the patient's bedside table
  b. Applying a gauze dressing to the epidural catheter insertion site
  c. Labeling the tubing that leads to the epidural catheter
  d. Asking the nursing assistive personnel to check on the patient at least once every 2 hours

Question 2

A student nurse realizes that she has administered the wrong dose of medication to a client and immediately informs her clinical instructor of this error. How is this student nurse best described as a professional?
 
  a. Confident
  b. Trustworthy
  c. Compliant
  d. Accountable

[phuda]

Answer to Question 1

C
To reduce the accidental administration of IV medications into the epidural catheter, the tubing that leads to the epidural catheter needs to be labeled clearly. Medications used to reverse the action of the anesthetic medication need to be kept in a secured location, not in the patient's room in an unsecured location. The epidural insertion site needs to be covered by a clear occlusive dressing to prevent infection and allow the nurse to assess the site. Patients receiving epidural anesthesia need to be monitored every 15 minutes until stabilized and then at least hourly.

Answer to Question 2

D
Accountability refers to the ability to answer for one's own actions. The goal is the prevention of injury to the client. The student nurse who informs her instructor of her error is holding herself accountable for her action and aims to avoid causing any injury to the client. Accountability is one of the seven values of the Code of Ethics central to nursing practice.
It would not be correct to describe the student nurse as confident (i.e., sure of oneself) profes-sionally.
It would not be correct to describe the student as trustworthy. To be trustworthy, one should be worthy of trust or confidence and be reliable. In this case, the student could not be relied on to administer medication correctly.
It would not be correct to describe this student nurse as compliant. The student did not act in accordance with wishes, commands, or requirements.