Final answer:
The nurse should write down the telephone order from the physician and then read it back to confirm accuracy before recording it in the patient's medical record.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a nurse receives a telephone order from a physician, the correct course of action is to write down the order and then read back the complete order to the physician. This is a critical step in the process of taking verbal or telephone orders in healthcare settings. By reading the order back, it confirms that the nurse has understood the order accurately and prevents potential errors in patient care. After the physician confirms that the read-back is correct, the nurse should record the order in the patient's medical record immediately, ensuring it is dated, timed, and includes the physician's name, as well as the name of the nurse who received the order.