The nurse was very busy and unfamiliar with a new medication, but administered it anyway. Later the ...

Correct Answer: 4
Rationale 1: An error could have occurred, but not necessarily because of the route of administration.
Rationale 2: Nurses should never administer a medication unless they are familiar with its uses and side effects; an error could have occurred because the nurse was unfamiliar with the medication.
Rationale 3: There is no information in the question to indicate that the nursing unit was understaffed; therefore the nursing manager is not partially at fault.
Rationale 4: An error did not occur, but could have because the nurse was not familiar with the medication.
Global Rationale: An error did not occur, but could have because the nurse was not familiar with the medication. An error could have occurred, but not necessarily because of the route of administration. Nurses should never administer a medication unless they are familiar with its uses and side effects; an error could have occurred because the nurse was unfamiliar with the medication. There is no information in the question to indicate that the nursing unit was understaffed; therefore the nursing manager is not partially at fault.