The nurse preceptor recognizes the new nurse's ability to determine patient safety risks when which behavior is observed?

Question

a. Checking patient identification once every shift
b. Multitasking by gathering two patients' medications
c. Disposing of used needles in a red needle container
d. Raising all four side rails per family request

Answer 1

C
Needles, syringes, and other single-use injection devices should be used once and disposed of in safety red needle containers that will be disposed of properly. Patient identification should be checked multiple times a day, including before each medication, treatment, procedure, blood administration, and transfer, and at the beginning of each shift. Gathering more than one patient's medication increases the likelihood of error. Raising all four side rails is considered a restraint and requires special orders, assessment, and monitoring of the patient.