A nurse is receiving a telephone prescription from a provider for a client who requires additional medication for pain control. Which of the following entries should the nurse make in the medical record?

Rationale:

A. Respite care: Respite care is designed to temporarily relieve caregivers of people with chronic conditions, typically elderly or disabled clients. It is not suitable for a young adult needing home IV therapy unless there is a primary caregiver experiencing burnout, which is not indicated in this scenario.

B. Adult day care: Adult day care services are intended for older adults who need supervision and social interaction during daytime hours. This service is not relevant for a young adult receiving home-based IV therapy, which requires in-home clinical support rather than daytime supervision outside the home.

C. Medicare Part A: Medicare Part A covers hospital stays, skilled nursing, and limited home health services but is generally for individuals over 65 or those with qualifying disabilities. A young adult living in poverty without a qualifying disability would not typically be eligible for this benefit.

D. Medicaid: Medicaid provides comprehensive health coverage for low-income individuals of all ages and is often used to fund home healthcare services, including IV therapy. It is a key resource for ensuring this client receives needed care at home.

E. Food Stamps: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as Food Stamps, helps low-income individuals afford adequate nutrition. This support is crucial for clients below the poverty level, especially while recovering and managing ongoing healthcare needs.

Rationale:

A. "Morphine 3 mg SQ every 4 hr PRN for pain.": The abbreviation "SQ" is considered unsafe and can be misinterpreted. The Joint Commission recommends avoiding this abbreviation and writing out "subcutaneous" to ensure clarity and patient safety.

B. "Morphine 3.0 mg sub q every 4 hr PRN for pain.": Using a trailing zero (e.g., "3.0 mg") increases the risk of a dosing error if the decimal point is missed. Standard documentation practices recommend omitting trailing zeros for whole numbers.

C. "Morphine 3 mg subcutaneous every 4 hr PRN for pain.": This entry uses the full name "subcutaneous," avoids unsafe abbreviations, and omits the trailing zero, adhering to safe and standardized medication documentation guidelines.

D. "Morphine 3 mg SC q4hr PRN for pain.": Both "SC" and "q4hr" are discouraged abbreviations. "SC" can be confused with "SL" (sublingual), and "q" abbreviations can be misread. Writing terms in full reduces the risk of misinterpretation.