Question

The nurse sees a med-prescription for a pt with acute post-surg pain. The prescription reads "3 mg oral MS as needed for pain". What should the nurse do first?

a) report prescribing provider for using inappropriate abbreviation
b) correct prescription to read "3 mg oral morphine sulfate as needed for pain"
c) call prescribing provider and ask for clarification of abbreviation "MS"
d) ask pharmacy to deliver meds to unit asap

Answer 1

The nurse should call the prescribing provider to clarify the abbreviation "MS" on the prescription to prevent medication errors and ensure the correct administration for the patient's acute post-surgical pain.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a nurse encounters a prescription that uses an abbreviation like "MS," which could be misinterpreted, the first action should be to ensure patient safety by seeking clarification. While "MS" typically stands for morphine sulfate, a potent analgesic used for severe pain management, it can be confused with other abbreviations, such as magnesium sulfate or multiple sclerosis in different contexts. The nurse should, therefore, c) call the prescribing provider and ask for clarification of the abbreviation "MS". This action will help prevent medication errors and ensure the correct drug, dosage, and formulation is administered to the patient for their acute post-surgical pain.