A nurse is orienting a newly licensed nurse about obtaining telephone prescriptions. Which of the following statements by the new nurse indicates a need for further teaching?

A. Medication reconciliation involves compiling a comprehensive and accurate list of the patient's current medications, which should be provided to the client at discharge to ensure continuity of care.
B. The list obtained from the client should include all medications the client is taking, including over-the-counter medications and supplements, not just those prescribed by the provider.
C. Verbal orders should be transcribed immediately into the medical record and should not be part of the medication reconciliation process.
D. Medication reconciliation should be an ongoing process throughout the patient's hospital stay to ensure that the most accurate list of medications is maintained.

A. Documenting at the end of the shift can lead to inaccuracies due to the delay, potentially causing errors if other staff need up-to-date information. It also increases the risk of forgetting details of the administration, compromising patient safety.
B. Documenting before administering the medications can lead to discrepancies if the medications are not given as planned. This practice could result in serious errors if the patient refuses the medication or if changes occur that affect administration.
C. Documenting immediately ensures that the record is accurate and reflects the current status of the patient’s medication regimen. It also allows other healthcare providers to see up-to-date information, which is crucial for ongoing patient care and safety.
D. Delaying documentation until a convenient time can lead to incomplete or forgotten details, increasing the risk of medication errors. Timely documentation is essential to maintain an accurate and reliable medical record.