The nurse calculates the medication dose for an infant on the pediatric unit and determines that the dose is twice what it should be.The pediatrician is contacted and says to administer the medication as ordered.What is the next action that the nurse should take?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Nurses follow health care providers' orders unless they believe the orders are in error or may harm patients.Therefore,the nurse needs to assess all orders.If an order seems to be erroneous or harmful,further clarification from the health care provider is necessary.If the health care provider confirms an order and the nurse still believe that it is inappropriate,the nurse should inform the supervising nurse or follow the established chain of command.The supervising nurse should be able to help resolve the questionable order,but only the health care provider who wrote the order or a health care provider covering for the one who wrote the order can change the order.Harm to the infant could occur if the medication dosage was too high.The nurse cannot change an order.Giving the amount calculated to be correct would not be what another nurse would do in the same situation.Although the pharmacy is an excellent resource,only the health care provider can change the order.

The Nurse Calculates the Medication Dose for an Infant on the Pediatric