A nurse realizes that the wrong medication has been administered to a client. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

Rationale: A. Report the incident to the nurse manager: While reporting the error is necessary for institutional accountability and improvement, it should not take priority over assessing the client's immediate physiological response to the error. B. Measure the client's vital signs: The nurse's first priority after a medication error is to assess the client for any adverse effects. Vital signs provide essential information about the client's condition and guide further actions to ensure safety. C. Fill out an incident report: An incident report is a key part of documenting medication errors but is done after the client's condition has been assessed and stabilized. It is for internal use and not part of the medical record. D. Notify the provider: The provider must be informed promptly, especially if corrective treatment is needed. However, this step comes after assessing the client's status to provide relevant clinical information during the report.