What should a caregiver do if an error occurs during medication administration?

When a medication administration error occurs, the appropriate course of action is to document the error and inform a supervisor immediately. This approach not only promotes transparency but also ensures that the situation is addressed promptly to mitigate any potential harm to the resident. Prompt reporting allows for timely interventions, such as assessing the resident for any adverse effects from the error and adjusting subsequent care plans as needed.

Documentation serves multiple purposes: it provides a clear account of the incident for training and quality assurance processes, and it protects both the caregiver and the organization by creating a record of events that can be referenced later. This action aligns with established protocols for medication safety and reflects the ethical principle of accountability in healthcare practices.

In contrast, concealing the error can lead to serious consequences for the resident's health and safety, and changing documentation would compromise the integrity of medical records. Stopping medication administration for all residents is impractical and could disrupt the necessary care that other residents need. Therefore, reporting and documenting the mistake is the standard best practice in medication administration.