A dermatologist treating a 16-year-old girl with a history of severe acne has ordered that she be started on a course of isotretinoin. The teen’s caregiver has said that her daughter is a virgin and refuses to allow her to have the required pregnancy testing. What would be the best action for the nurse?

Choice A reason: Signing a form to bypass pregnancy testing violates isotretinoin safety protocols, risking fetal harm due to teratogenicity. Encouraging testing ensures compliance, making this unsafe and incorrect compared to addressing the caregiver’s concerns while prioritizing the teen’s safety for acne treatment. Choice B reason: Speaking to the teen alone respects privacy but doesn’t address the caregiver’s refusal or ensure testing compliance, required for isotretinoin. Encouraging testing with the caregiver’s consent is safer, making this inadequate and incorrect compared to securing agreement for mandatory pregnancy testing. Choice C reason: Acknowledging the caregiver’s discomfort builds trust while emphasizing the necessity of pregnancy testing for isotretinoin’s safe use, preventing fetal harm. This aligns with pediatric medication safety protocols, making it the best action to ensure the 16-year-old can safely receive acne treatment. Choice D reason: Testing without caregiver knowledge violates consent and trust, risking legal and ethical issues. Encouraging open discussion ensures compliance, making this unethical and incorrect compared to the nurse’s role in facilitating agreement for required pregnancy testing for the teen’s isotretinoin therapy.