The nurse prepares a narcotic analgesic for the client. When the nurse enters the client's room to administer the medication, the client drops the capsule on the floor. Which action by the nurse is the most appropriate?
1. Wipe it off and administer it anyway because it's a narcotic.
2. Throw the pill in the trash can in the client's room and get a replacement.
3. Discard the tablet according to facility policy, with another nurse cosigning the waste, and obtain a new capsule to administer to the client.
4. Discard the tablet according to facility policy, with the unlicensed assistive personnel cosigning the waste, and obtain a new capsule to administer to the client.
Correct Answer: 3
When wasting a narcotic, it must be witnessed by another licensed staff member, and cannot be witnessed by an unlicensed assistive personnel. Another capsule should be signed out and administered to the client. The wasted narcotic should be disposed of in the sink, the toilet, or someplace where it cannot be retrieved. Any medication that falls to the floor must be discarded, and can never be administered.
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