Correct Answer: B

Rationale: When a medication error occurs, the most appropriate action for a healthcare professional is to report the error to the healthcare provider immediately. This is crucial for ensuring prompt corrective action to mitigate any potential harm to the patient. Documenting the error is important but should come after reporting it to the relevant authorities. Apologizing to the patient is important for maintaining trust and communication but should not take precedence over reporting and addressing the error. Continuing to administer the medication without addressing the error is unsafe and goes against patient safety protocols.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: When a healthcare provider prescribes a dose that is higher than normal, it is crucial for the nurse to contact the provider to clarify the prescription. Administering the prescribed dose without clarification can lead to potential harm to the patient due to the elevated dosage. Asking another nurse to verify the dose may not provide the necessary clarification from the prescriber. Administering only half of the prescribed dose without consulting the healthcare provider is not the appropriate action, as the full rationale behind the higher dose needs to be understood before any administration.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'Changing the patient's position.' Repositioning the patient every 2 hours can be delegated to nursing assistive personnel as it involves physically moving the patient. Tasks like determining the level of comfort (choice A) and assessing circulation (choice D) are clinical judgments that require a nursing license and should be performed by the nurse. Similarly, identifying immobility hazards (choice C) involves critical thinking and assessment skills that are within the nurse's scope of practice.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Sterilizing contaminated items. Maintaining medical asepsis involves ensuring that items are free of microorganisms to prevent infections. Sterilizing contaminated items is a crucial step in this process as it eliminates all microorganisms, including spores. Choices B, C, and D do not directly address the process of reducing and preventing the spread of microorganisms. While routinely cleaning the hospital environment is important for cleanliness, it does not guarantee the elimination of all microorganisms. Reapplying a sterile dressing and applying a sterile gown and gloves are specific actions related to personal protective equipment and wound care, not the general maintenance of medical asepsis.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is to check the patient's heart rate before administering digoxin. Digoxin is a medication that primarily affects cardiac function. Monitoring the heart rate is crucial because digoxin can cause arrhythmias or worsen existing heart rhythm abnormalities. Assessing blood pressure may also be important but is secondary to evaluating the heart rate when administering digoxin. Ensuring the patient has eaten before administration is not directly related to the safe administration of digoxin. Monitoring the patient's weight is not a priority action before administering digoxin.