The nurse in the emergency department miscalculates, and administers the wrong dosage of an antibiotic to a 9-month-old baby. As a result, the baby suffers permanent brain damage. Which factor most likely contributed to the error?

Question

1. Lack of adequate oral or written communication
2. Name confusion involving similar-sounding drugs
3. Mislabeled products
4. Human factors

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 4
Rationale 1: Lack of communication is not indicated in the scenario.
Rationale 2: There is no indication of name confusion.
Rationale 3: There is no indication the products were inappropriately labeled.
Rationale 4: This was a human factor. The dosage was miscalculated.
Global Rationale: This was a human factor. The dosage was miscalculated. Lack of communication is not indicated in the scenario. There is no indication of name confusion or that the products were inappropriately labeled.