Nokea
The nurse calls the primary health care provider to express concerns about a chemotherapeutic medication dose prescribed by the primary health care provider being too high. The primary health care provider office informs the nurse that the primary health care provider has left town and will not be available for several days. What action should the nurse take next to assure client safety?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: If the nurse believes a primary health care provider's prescription to be in error, the nurse must clarify the dosage with the client's primary health care provider or the primary health care provider's substitute before administering the medication. Rescheduling the client's chemotherapy is incorrect. Chemotherapy must be administered on a specific schedule for maximum effect with minimum adverse effects. Additionally, only a prescriber can withhold or reschedule chemotherapy. Withholding the medication until the partner makes rounds is incorrect. Chemotherapy agents must be administered in the proper combinations or sequence in order to be effective. Checking with the pharmacist can assist the nurse in determining whether the dose prescribed is incorrect, but the nurse or pharmacist cannot alter the dose without a revised prescription from a licensed primary health care provider with prescriptive authority.