A nurse is changing a wound dressing for a post-op client. Which of the following steps is the nurse performing?

Choice A rationale
Correcting the physician’s orders to match the chart is not within the nurse’s scope of practice. Nurses should not alter physician orders.
Choice B rationale
Ignoring the discrepancy is not appropriate. Nurses have a responsibility to ensure patient safety and accurate documentation.
Choice C rationale
Documenting the discrepancy but taking no further action does not address the potential risk to patient safety. Further action is necessary.
Choice D rationale
Documenting the discrepancy and notifying the physician is the correct course of action. This ensures that the physician is aware of the issue and can make any necessary corrections.

Choice A rationale
Asking the family member to provide identification does not ensure that the caller is authorized to receive patient information. Even with identification, the nurse cannot verify the caller’s relationship to the patient or their authorization to access confidential information.
Choice B rationale
Not providing any information over the phone is the correct action to protect patient confidentiality. Healthcare providers must ensure that patient information is only shared with authorized individuals, and phone calls do not provide a secure method for verifying the caller’s identity.
Choice C rationale
Providing only publicly available information is not appropriate, as it still involves sharing patient-related details without proper verification. Any disclosure of patient information, even if minimal, must be done with caution and proper authorization.
Choice D rationale
Informing the family member that they need to visit in person is a better approach, but it still does not guarantee that the individual is authorized to receive patient information. The nurse should follow established protocols for verifying authorization before sharing any details.