A nurse is working on a busy orthopedic floor and is on the phone with the floor manager when a physician comes up and gives a verbal order for pain medications on an assigned patient. The physician then leaves the unit
Which action by the nurse would be the most appropriate? a. Write down the order and administer the medication.
b. Put the nurse manager on hold and ask the physician to write the order.
c. Ignore the physician and continue the conversation with the nurse manager.
d. Write down the order and document it as a telephone order.
B
The most appropriate action would be for the nurse to put the nurse manager on hold and ask the physician to write the order. The Joint Commission states that there is a big difference between verbal and telephone orders. Verbal orders should never be accepted unless there is an emergency or the physician is in a sterile environment because there is too much opportunity for a tran-scribing error.
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