A nurse is receiving a telephone prescription for a client from a provider. Which of the following actions should the nurse take when transcribing the prescription?
Use the provider’s initials after the prescription
Repeat the prescription to the provider
Write the prescription in shorthand
Read back the prescription to the provider
The Correct Answer is D
A) Use the provider’s initials after the prescription:
Using the provider's initials after the prescription is not an appropriate or standard practice. The nurse should transcribe the prescription accurately and include the provider's full name or identification, but not initials. The nurse is responsible for ensuring the correct interpretation and transmission of the order, and abbreviations or initials could lead to errors or confusion.
B) Repeat the prescription to the provider:
Repeating the prescription to the provider may not be sufficient. It is important to read the prescription back to the provider to ensure that both the nurse and the provider are in agreement about the medication order. Repeating the prescription is a good practice, but it does not provide the same level of verification as reading it back to ensure its accuracy.
C) Write the prescription in shorthand:
Writing prescriptions in shorthand is unsafe and should be avoided. Shorthand can lead to misunderstandings or misinterpretations of the order, which could result in medication errors. The nurse should transcribe the prescription clearly and in full, without using any abbreviations or shorthand, to ensure clarity and accuracy.
D) Read back the prescription to the provider:
Reading back the prescription to the provider is the correct action. This practice, often referred to as "read-back," helps to confirm that the nurse has accurately heard and understood the provider’s order. It is a safety measure that reduces the likelihood of medication errors, especially in high-risk situations like verbal or telephone orders. The nurse should repeat the prescription verbatim, including dosage, route, frequency, and any other relevant details, to ensure it has been transcribed correctly.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A) Notify the facility’s ethics committee:
While it may be relevant to involve an ethics committee in certain complex situations, such as when there are concerns about patient autonomy or ethical decision-making, the refusal of a medication by a client is generally a standard issue that does not immediately require ethics consultation.
B) Return the opened medication in the medication cart:
Returning an opened unit-dose medication to the cart is not appropriate. Once a unit-dose medication is opened, it cannot be reused due to safety concerns (e.g., contamination, dosage errors). The opened medication should be disposed of properly according to the facility's policies for medication handling and disposal.
C) Report the incident to the provider:
The provider should be notified when a client refuses medication, especially if the medication is essential for the client’s treatment or health condition. It is important for the nurse to document the refusal and inform the provider so that appropriate follow-up can be arranged, including possible reassessment of the treatment plan, alternative medications, or further education for the client.
D) Fill out an incident report:
An incident report is typically completed for situations that involve safety issues, errors, or accidents that may affect patient safety or quality of care. While refusal of medication is an important event, it does not generally require an incident report unless it involves an unusual or dangerous situation, such as a medication error or patient harm.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice D:
The client seems to be more comfortable performing self-administration of insulin: The use of the term “seems” introduces subjectivity, which weakens the clarity and objectivity of the documentation. It’s better to describe specific observations or objective findings. For instance, instead of using “seems,” the nurse could note how the client demonstrated confidence or performed the task with ease, providing concrete evidence of improvement.
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