A postoperative client has three different prescriptions for PRN analgesics prescribed for different levels of pain. The nurse inadvertently administers a dose that is not within the prescribed parameters. Which action should the nurse take first?

A. Assess for side effects of the medication: The first priority after a medication error is to assess the client’s immediate status for any adverse effects or signs of toxicity. This ensures prompt recognition and management of complications, prioritizing client safety before taking further reporting or documentation steps. B. Complete a medication error report: Completing an incident report is essential for quality improvement and preventing future errors, but it is not the initial priority. Documentation and reporting should occur after the nurse ensures the client’s condition is stable. C. Document the client's responses: Recording the client’s responses is an important step in monitoring and communicating the effects of the medication, but it follows immediate safety interventions such as assessing for side effects. D. Determine if the pain was relieved: While evaluating pain relief is important in assessing medication effectiveness, it does not address the potential for harm from giving an inappropriate dose or drug. Ensuring safety takes precedence over evaluating therapeutic benefit.