A nurse is preparing to administer acetaminophen (325 mg tablets) to an adult client with a prescription for 650 mg every 6 hours as needed for pain relief. Upon reviewing the client's medication history, the nurse notices that a dose of 650 mg was given four hours ago. What is the nurse's next best step?
Document that the client declined the dose and reassess their pain level later.
Contact the healthcare provider to clarify the administration timing.
Recheck prior medication records to ensure no error was made in the documentation.
Administer the medication because the prescribed dosage is appropriate.
The correct answer is "Contact the healthcare provider to clarify the administration timing." Acetaminophen has a maximum daily dose of 4,000 mg to prevent liver toxicity. Administering the medication earlier than the prescribed interval increases the risk of approaching or exceeding this threshold. The nurse must contact the healthcare provider before proceeding to ensure client safety and compliance with the prescribed timing. Simply researching prior documentation will not resolve the timing issue. Giving the medication without clarification creates significant risk, and documenting refusal without seeking provider input neglects client needs for pain relief and the possibility of adjusting the order.
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