What should you do if you are unsure about a medication order?

What should you do if you are unsure about a medication order?

• A. Administer as scheduled and verify later.
• B. Ignore the doubt.
• C. Do not administer; seek clarification from a nurse or prescriber; verify the order before administration.
• D. Adjust the dose yourself.

Answer: (C)

If you’re unsure about a medication order, don’t administer it. The safest approach is to pause and seek clarification from the supervising nurse or the prescriber, and verify the order before giving it. Confirm all details: drug name, dose, route, and time, as well as the patient’s identity and any allergies or potential interactions. Once the order is clarified and confirmed, you can proceed correctly. This prevents medication errors and keeps the patient safe. Administering the medication with uncertainty, ignoring the doubt, or adjusting the dose yourself all increase risk and are not appropriate.

If you’re unsure about a medication order, don’t administer it. The safest approach is to pause and seek clarification from the supervising nurse or the prescriber, and verify the order before giving it. Confirm all details: drug name, dose, route, and time, as well as the patient’s identity and any allergies or potential interactions. Once the order is clarified and confirmed, you can proceed correctly. This prevents medication errors and keeps the patient safe. Administering the medication with uncertainty, ignoring the doubt, or adjusting the dose yourself all increase risk and are not appropriate.