What is the first action a nurse should take after administering the wrong medication?

The appropriate first action after administering the wrong medication is to notify the provider. This is critical because the healthcare provider needs to be immediately informed of the error in order to assess the situation, understand the potential implications for the patient’s health, and direct further actions.

After a medication error, patient safety is the priority. The provider can advise the nurse on specific interventions that may be necessary based on the medication given, the dosage, and the patient's clinical condition. This ensures that any necessary treatment or observation can be initiated as soon as possible in case the wrong medication could cause harm.

While monitoring the patient is also crucial, it typically follows the notification of the provider, who can guide the nurse on what specific observations should be focused on based on the medication error. Documentation of the error is important but should come after immediate patient safety measures are in place. Calling poison control may be warranted in certain situations but is not the first step in all medication errors, especially if the provider can quickly assess the need for that action.