During a medication safety assessment, what should you do if a prescription seems unsafe or unclear?

• A. Administer as written
• B. Refuse to give the medication and notify the provider and nurse manager
• C. Delay administration until staff change
• D. Self-prescribe an alternative

Answer: (B)

When a prescription seems unsafe or unclear, the first priority is to protect the patient by pausing administration and seeking clarification through proper channels. The best course is to refuse to give the medication until the prescriber is contacted for clarification, and to notify the appropriate leadership (such as the nurse manager) and the prescriber so the order can be corrected. This approach ensures the medication plan is accurate and aligns with safety policies.

In practice, you would verify the order details (drug, dose, route, and frequency), check for allergies, current medications, and relevant labs, and involve a pharmacist if available to confirm safety. Document the concern and all communications, and follow the facility’s escalation process if the prescriber cannot be reached immediately.

Administering as written can lead to harm when the order is unclear. Delaying until staff change is not a safe or reliable solution, and self-prescribing an alternative is outside your professional scope and unsafe.