Which of the following actions by the nurse constitutes professional malpractice?
a. Administering a preoperative sedative in the patient holding area instead of in the patient's room
b. Failing to notify the physician of a potassium level of 4 mEq/L
c. Placing the head of the bed flat when a patient is receiving a tube feeding, causing the patient to aspirate the mixture
d. Administering a routine medication 10 minutes late because of a unit emergency
ANS: C
A
Administering a preoperative sedative in the patient holding area instead of in the patient's room does no harm to the patient.
B
Failing to notify the physician of a potassium level of 4 mEq/L does not necessarily do harm to the patient.
C
The reasonable nurse would know that the head of the bed must be elevated when the patient is receiving a tube feeding.
D
No harm resulted from administering a routine medication 10 minutes late because of a unit emergency.
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