Nokea
A 65-year-old female client arrives in the emergency department with shortness of breath and chest pain. The nurse accidentally administers 10 mg of morphine sulfate instead of the prescribed 4 mg. Later, the client's respiratory rate is 10 breaths/minute, oxygen saturation is 98%, and she states her pain has subsided. What is the legal status of the nurse?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: The client would not be able to prove malpractice in court. In this scenario, although the nurse made an error in administering a higher dose of morphine, the client's condition improved, as evidenced by stable vital signs and pain relief. Therefore, there was no harm caused to the client due to the mistake. In malpractice cases, the client needs to prove that harm or injury resulted from the healthcare provider's actions. Since the client's condition improved, it would be difficult to establish malpractice in this situation.
Choice A is incorrect because negligence requires harm or injury to occur, which is not the case here. Choice C is incorrect as the Good Samaritan Act typically applies to individuals providing emergency care in good faith at the scene of an emergency, not within a healthcare setting. Choice D is incorrect as the focus is on the nurse's error in administering the incorrect dose, not on the healthcare provider's responsibility in this context.