A practical nurse cannot read the obstetrician's handwriting for postpartum orders. What should she do?

A practical nurse cannot read the obstetrician's handwriting for postpartum orders. What should she do?

• A. Ask the client what her obstetrician ordered for postpartum pain relief
• B. Contact the obstetrician for clarification of the orders
• C. Ask the unit clerk for clarification of the obstetrician's handwriting
• D. Consult other postpartum charts for this obstetrician to compare similar orders

Answer: (B)

When a practitioner’s handwriting is unreadable, patient safety depends on getting a clear, legible order directly from the prescriber. The nurse must verify the exact medication, dose, route, and timing with the obstetrician before administering postpartum pain relief. This direct clarification prevents med errors and ensures the plan matches the patient’s needs and any cautions or allergies. Asking the patient for the order is not appropriate because the patient may not know the specifics or may misremember, and it still leaves the medication administration unresolved. Relying on the unit clerk to interpret the handwriting shifts the responsibility away from a licensed professional and may still leave the order unclear. Looking at other charts from a different obstetrician assumes those orders apply to this patient, which can be unsafe due to differences in each physician’s plan.

When a practitioner’s handwriting is unreadable, patient safety depends on getting a clear, legible order directly from the prescriber. The nurse must verify the exact medication, dose, route, and timing with the obstetrician before administering postpartum pain relief. This direct clarification prevents med errors and ensures the plan matches the patient’s needs and any cautions or allergies.

Asking the patient for the order is not appropriate because the patient may not know the specifics or may misremember, and it still leaves the medication administration unresolved. Relying on the unit clerk to interpret the handwriting shifts the responsibility away from a licensed professional and may still leave the order unclear. Looking at other charts from a different obstetrician assumes those orders apply to this patient, which can be unsafe due to differences in each physician’s plan.