A nurse is receiving a telephone prescription from a client's provider. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? (Select all that apply)
Explanation & Rationale
A. Withhold the medication until the provider signs the prescription: Telephone prescriptions are considered valid once received and properly documented. Delaying administration until a signature is obtained could compromise timely care. The provider must later sign the prescription, but administration should not be delayed if properly authorized. B. Ask the provider to spell out the name of the medication: Asking for the spelling of the medication name helps prevent errors, especially with drugs that sound alike or have complex names. Clarification ensures correct medication administration and enhances client safety. C. Request that the provider confirm the read-back of the prescription: Reading back the prescription and obtaining confirmation is a critical safety step. It verifies that the prescription was accurately understood and recorded, significantly reducing the risk of medication errors. D. Instruct another user to record the prescription in the medical record: The nurse receiving the prescription must personally document it. Assigning this task to someone else increases the chance of miscommunication or transcription errors and violates professional documentation standards. E. Record the date and time of the telephone prescription: Proper documentation of the date and time ensures an accurate, complete medical record. It establishes when the prescription was received, which is important for both clinical tracking and legal accountability.