Question

A resident called to see a patient in the middle of the night is leaving the unit and remembers that he forgot to write a new order for a pain medication you had requested for another patient. Tired and already being paged to another unit, he verbally tells you the order and asks you to document it on the physician's order sheet. Your best response is:

A. "Thank you!"
B. Get a second nurse to listen to the order, and after writing the order on the physician order sheet, have both nurses sign.
C. "I am sorry but verbal orders can only be given in an emergency situation that prevents us from writing them out. I'll bring the chart and we can do this quickly."
D. Try calling another resident for the order or wait until the next shift.

Answer 1

The best response is to have a second nurse listen to the order and sign the physician order sheet.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best response in this situation is option B: Get a second nurse to listen to the order, write the order on the physician order sheet, and have both nurses sign.

Verbal orders should only be accepted in emergency situations, and this scenario does not constitute an emergency. It is important to have a second nurse present to listen to the order to ensure accuracy and prevent any potential errors. By having both nurses sign, it creates a record of the verbal order and provides accountability.

Additionally, it is important to document this incident and communicate with the resident about the appropriate process for giving orders.