The patient has an order for morphine sulfate 2 mg intravenously prn (as needed) every 2 hours. When the nurse administers this medication, she is providing:
a. an independent nursing intervention.
b. a dependent nursing intervention.
c. a referral
d. an indirect care procedure.
ANS: B
Dependent nursing interventions are tasks that require an order from a physician or primary care provider (PCP). Independent nursing interventions are tasks within the nursing scope of practice that the nurse may undertake without a physician or PCP order. Referrals in health care involve sending a patient to another member of the interdisciplinary health care team for a consultation or other services. Indirect care includes nursing interventions that are performed to benefit patients but do not involve face-to-face contact with patients.
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