NCLEX^® QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Question of the Week – December 22, 2021

December 22, 2021

The nurse is developing a hospital policy on guidelines for telephone and verbal prescriptions. Which guidelines would the nurse include in the policy? Select all that apply.

Avoid using all abbreviations.
Verbal prescriptions are rarely acceptable.
Clarify any questions with the primary health care provider.
Repeat the prescribed prescriptions back to the primary health care provider.
Cosigning the prescription by the primary health care provider is not necessary.
If the prescriber is the client's primary health care provider, documentation is unnecessary.

Show Answer Answer

Correct! The answer is number 3 and 4

Rationale:

To avoid misunderstandings, the nurse would always clarify a telephone or verbal prescription with the primary health care provider (PHCP) if he or she had any questions about the prescription and would repeat any prescriptions back to the PHCP. A telephone order (TO) or prescription involves a PHCP stating a prescribed therapy over the phone to the nurse. TOs are frequently given at night or during an emergency and need to be given only when absolutely necessary. Likewise, a verbal order (VO) or prescription is acceptable when there is no opportunity for the PHCP to write the prescription such as in an emergency situation. Additional guidelines for telephone and verbal prescriptions include the following: clearly determine the client’s name, room number, and diagnosis; indicate TO or VO, including the date and time, name of the client, complete prescription, name of the PHCP giving the prescription, and nurse taking the prescription; and have the PHCP cosign the prescription within the time frame designated by the health care agency (usually 24 hours).

Additional info:

Level of Cognitive Ability: Applying

Client Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment

Clinical Judgment/Cognitive Skills: Take action

Integrated Process: Nursing Process/Implementation

Content Area: Leadership/Management: Ethical/Legal

Health Codes: N/A

Priority Concepts: Communication; Safety

Practice Question Sourced From: Saunders Q&A Review for the NCLEX-RN® Examination, 8th Edition