Question

A nurse receives a prescription to obtain a chest x-ray for an employee. How should the nurse proceed?

A) Instruct the employee to obtain a chest x-ray.
B) Schedule a chest x-ray for the employee.
C) Notify the healthcare provider for clarification.
D) Decline to arrange the chest x-ray.

Answer 1

The nurse should schedule a chest x-ray for the employee as prescribed by the healthcare provider. This is part of the nurse’s responsibility in coordinating care and facilitating appropriate diagnostic tests.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a nurse receives a prescription to obtain a chest x-ray for an employee, the nurse should proceed by scheduling a chest x-ray for the employee. This action ensures the prescription ordered by the healthcare provider is carried out appropriately. The nurse's role includes coordination of care, which involves arranging for diagnostic tests such as chest radiographs when indicated by the provider.

Situations like John's where symptoms suggest influenza, and Marsha's where crepitation is heard in the lungs, are instances where a nurse might need to facilitate a chest x-ray. These diagnostic tests can reveal important information such as the presence of cavities, opacities, or a pattern of abnormal material distribution in the lungs, which can assist in determining the correct diagnosis and subsequent treatment.