A nurse notices an error in a previously documented medication administration. What is the appropriate action?

Proper documentation correction maintains the legal integrity of the medical record. The correct procedure: draw a single line through the incorrect entry so it remains readable; write 'error' or 'mistaken entry' near the line; initial and date the correction; make the correct entry. Never erase, white out, scribble out, or remove pages — these actions appear to hide information and undermine the record's credibility in any legal or regulatory review. The original entry must remain visible so the corrected information can be understood in context. Electronic health records have built-in correction protocols: corrections are usually visible with timestamps and the original entry remains accessible. Late entries (information remembered later) are added at the next available chronological space with a notation like 'late entry for [date/time]'. Honest, transparent correction protects both patient safety and nursing license.