Ethics, legal nursing, delegation, prioritization Management of Care
Case Study
A 64-year-old client on a medical-surgical unit is being evaluated for nursing care related to unsafe orders. Assessment data include telephone order received for a high-risk IV medication. Which finding requires the nurse to intervene immediately?
Question
A. A stable, long-standing finding that matches the expected care plan.
B. A comfort request with unchanged vital signs and no new symptoms.
C. The new finding that telephone order received for a high-risk IV medication.
D. Routine data unchanged from the prior assessment.
Rationale
Correct answer: C. The new finding that telephone order received for a high-risk IV medication.
Rationale: Follow-up items test whether the nurse recognizes cues that are new, acute, or inconsistent with stability and need prompt nursing action.
Hint: Apply ABCs, client stability, and NCSBN clinical judgment steps before choosing an intervention.
Level: Advanced
Difficulty: Hard
Subtopic: Unsafe orders