A nurse sees a colleague remove a controlled substance and pocket it without documenting administration. What is the best action?

Question

This question asks the nurse to understand legal and ethical concerns related to medication administration.

Answer 1

A. Report the incident to the unit charge nurse immediately

B. Confront the colleague privately and ask for an explanation

C. Wait to see if the colleague corrects the documentation

D. Notify the client’s healthcare provider about the missing medication

Answer: A

Rationale: This is a legal and ethical violation. It must be reported to a supervisor immediately to ensure client safety and follow institutional policy. Medication administration must be administered and documented in real-time.