CASE ANALYSIS:

ADMINISTRATION OF ANTIBIOTICS WITHOUT PRIOR SKIN TEST

Prepared by:

Christine V. Dela Cruz

BSN – 115

Far Eastern University – Manila

Institute of Nursing

June 2021
CASE SCENARIO #8

Ms. JL who was previously confined at the hospital after undergoing a surgical procedure

called thyroidectomy on April 21 2017.Durng confinement nurse M. injected on the patient an

antibiotic without conducting prior skin test. This was administered even as the complainant told

nurse M., she was advised by her doctor that she doesn't need antibiotics. As a result, Ms. JL

reportedly started to experience rapid heart palpitation, difficulty in breathing, chilling,

nervousness, and skin rashes started appearing but was not attended to by the nurse who had

allegedly left the patient to check her medical records. A doctor came giving her an anti-allergic

drug and saved patient from more serious case.

INTRODUCTION

Administering of medications towards patients inside medical institutions is the most

basic but crucial action towards medical practitioners. Errors of giving medication can lead to

medical negligence and may cause some obstruction towards the healing stages of the patients.

According to Härkänen et al. (2018), many variables contributed to wrong-patient incidents,

including nurse-related issues such as exhaustion, a lack of skills, or irresponsibility, as well as

system-related factors like rushing or heavy workloads. The technique of identifying the patient

was not detailed at all in 77 percent (n = 79) of wrong-patient incident reports. As indicated by

the Department of Health and Human Services (n.d.), more than one of every five patients in

nursing homes endure antagonistic impacts because of inadequate consideration, and over 37%

of these mistakes are identified with prescription. Although nurse-related issues and system-
related factors cannot be avoided in hospital settings, proper consent and antibiotic allergy test

prior to administration should always be conducted in all situations that apply.

ANALYSIS

The case scenario shows that the nurse assigned for the patient’s care during her

confinement after undergoing through surgical procedure called thyroidectomy administered an

antibiotic without prior skin test. The situation greatly concerns some of the principles of

biomedical ethics which tainted the medical practitioner’s primary responsibility as a nurse.

There is no beneficence and nonmaleficence in the action of the nurse despite the patient’s

complaints about her not needing antibiotics based on her doctor’s advice. The nurse failed to

promote the act of kindness and mercy towards the patient and the principle of not doing any act

that will harm a patient.

CONCLUSION

Vigilance and communication are essential. Wellbeing experts ought to direct

prescription with a high upright mindfulness and an endeavor to focus on the undertaking. In

administering antibiotics towards patient, it is important that healthcare providers should do an

informed consent towards their patient and doing initial skin tests to avoid complications despite

having nurse-related issues and system-related factors that might become a hindrance on the flow

of communication.
 REFERENCES

6.2 Safe Medication Administration – Clinical Procedures for Safer Patient Care. (2015,

November 23). Opentextbc.ca. https://opentextbc.ca/clinicalskills/chapter/6-1-safe-

medication-adminstration/

Härkänen, M., Tiainen, M., & Haatainen, K. (2018). Wrong-patient incidents during medication

administrations. Journal of clinical nursing, 27(3-4), 715–724.

https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.14021

Window of World. (2021, March 27). Antibiotic skin test: What are the benefits and how is the

procedure? Www.windowofworld.com. https://www.windowofworld.com/antibiotic-

skin-test-what-are-the-benefits-and-how-is-the-procedure/

Wrong Medication Given - Nursing Home Abuse Guide. (n.d.).

Www.nursinghomeabuseguide.org. https://www.nursinghomeabuseguide.org/medication-

errors/wrong-medication-given