One of the clients assigned to the nurse's care is to receive a medication that the nurse is not familiar with and is not listed in the drug reference manual. The best action of the nurse is to:

Question

1. Follow the physician's orders as written and give the medication.
2. Call the pharmacy and do further investigating before administering the medication.
3. Ask the client about this medication.
4. Call the physician and ask what the medication is and what it is for.

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 2
Rationale 1: Following the physician's order is important, but the nurse is still responsible to know and understand the medication, its action, and adverse actions as well as interactions with other medications.
Rationale 2: The nurse should clearly understand all nursing interventions to be implemented and question any that are not understood. The nurse is responsible for intelligent implementation of medical and surgical plans of care. The pharmacist would be the most appropriate reference point for this nurse to begin to research this problem.
Rationale 3: The client should be informed about the medications and treatments, but the nurse does not utilize the client for scientific knowledge and professional standards of care.
Rationale 4: The pharmacist would be the most appropriate reference point for this nurse to begin to research this problem.