An emergency department nurse is caring for a patient who has presented with symptoms of a stroke. The patient's condition is deteriorating, and the nurse identifies a possible error in the administration of thrombolytic therapy. Which of the following actions is MOST appropriate for the nurse to take first in managing this risk situation?
Conduct a root cause analysis to determine the cause of the error.
Immediate documentation of the error in the patient's medical record.
Review hospital policy on thrombolytic therapy administration.
Stop the infusion and assess the patient's condition.
The correct action in a situation involving a potential error with medication administration, especially a high-alert medication like a thrombolytic, is to ensure patient safety immediately. This involves stopping the infusion to prevent further harm. It is also important to notify the healthcare provider and document the incident, but the priority is to address the patient's safety first. While reviewing hospital policy is crucial for understanding proper procedures, it is not the immediate action to be taken in response to a potential error in process. A root cause analysis is typically performed after the incident has been stabilized and reported, not as a first response.
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