The nurse working on a pediatric unit is reviewing a medication order for an assigned child. The physician's order is illegible and incomplete. The nurse would do which of the following as a priority action?

Question

1. Call the physician and ask him to clarify the order.
2. Fax the order to the pharmacy, which will clarify the order with the physician.
3. Give the order to the unit secretary, who will clarify the order with the physician.
4. Give the medication as interpreted so as not to disrupt client care.

Answer 1

1
Rationale 1: In the role of an advocate for the client, the nurse has the obligation to clarify the order and reduce the risk of a medication error that might be incurred by guessing what the order says. Even if the pharmacy or unit secretary interpreted the illegible handwriting, the nurse could not give the medication without independently being certain it was properly interpreted. The nurse should speak to the physician and seek clarification.