The nurse observes a physician provide twice the recommended dose of pain medication to a patient with a terminal illness. What should the nurse do about this situation?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse's primary concern should be the well-being of the patient. Therefore, the best choice is to focus on the best response for the patient. This may involve monitoring the patient for adverse effects of the medication and advocating for appropriate pain management strategies. Confronting the physician directly or reporting them to the medical director may cause conflict and disrupt the patient's care. However, if the nurse determines that the physician's actions were inappropriate or potentially harmful, they should follow the appropriate channels for reporting such incidents.

The Nurse Observes a Physician Provide Twice the Recommended Dose