Practice HESI Fundamentals Exam Related

Review Practice HESI Fundamentals Exam related questions and content

A healthcare professional is caring for a client who has a prescription for morphine 5mg IM but accidentally administers the entire 10mg from the single-dose vial. Which of the following actions should the healthcare professional take first?

  • A. Complete an incident report
  • B. Measure the client's respiratory rate
  • C. Report the incident to the pharmacy
  • D. Notify the client's provider
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Assessing the client's respiratory rate is the priority in this situation as overdosing on morphine can lead to respiratory depression, making it crucial to monitor the client's breathing. Completing an incident report (choice A) is important but should not be the first action. Reporting the incident to the pharmacy (choice C) and notifying the client's provider (choice D) are necessary steps but assessing the client's respiratory status takes precedence to ensure immediate safety and intervention.