A nurse is reinforcing teaching with the parents of a newborn about bathing. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?

A. Withhold the medication until the provider signs the prescription: Telephone prescriptions are considered valid once received and properly documented. Delaying administration until a signature is obtained could compromise timely care. The provider must later sign the prescription, but administration should not be delayed if properly authorized.

B. Ask the provider to spell out the name of the medication: Asking for the spelling of the medication name helps prevent errors, especially with drugs that sound alike or have complex names. Clarification ensures correct medication administration and enhances client safety.

C. Request that the provider confirm the read-back of the prescription: Reading back the prescription and obtaining confirmation is a critical safety step. It verifies that the prescription was accurately understood and recorded, significantly reducing the risk of medication errors.

D. Instruct another user to record the prescription in the medical record: The nurse receiving the prescription must personally document it. Assigning this task to someone else increases the chance of miscommunication or transcription errors and violates professional documentation standards.

E. Record the date and time of the telephone prescription: Proper documentation of the date and time ensures an accurate, complete medical record. It establishes when the prescription was received, which is important for both clinical tracking and legal accountability.

• Temperature 35.3°C (95.5°F): Hypothermia following surgery is concerning because it may reflect poor perfusion, internal bleeding, or shock. Immediate warming measures and evaluation are necessary to prevent further deterioration.
• Blood pressure 90/60 mm Hg: The client’s blood pressure is lower than previous values and indicates potential hypovolemia or ongoing blood loss. Hypotension post-surgery must be urgently addressed to avoid progression to shock.
• Skin cool and moist to touch: Cool, moist skin is an early clinical sign of decreased tissue perfusion and shock. When found alongside hypotension and hypothermia, it suggests that circulatory compromise may already be developing.
• Moderate amount of sanguineous drainage noted on lower dressing: Moderate bleeding post-laparoscopic surgery is abnormal. This finding, in combination with hypotension and other signs of poor perfusion, strongly suggests possible internal bleeding requiring urgent provider notification.
• Hypoactive bowel sounds: Hypoactive bowel sounds are expected after abdominal surgery due to anesthesia and reduced gut motility. They are not an immediate sign of a critical complication unless accompanied by abdominal distension or severe pain, they should however be monitored.
• Heart rate 60/min: A heart rate of 60/min is at the lower limit of normal. Although 60/min is still technically within normal range, the trend of decreasing heart rate from baseline 90 beats/min, especially in the setting of hypotension and signs of poor perfusion, is concerning. This decline may indicate worsening hemodynamic status and must be monitored closely for further deterioration..
• Pedal pulse +1 bilateral: Diminished pedal pulses (+1) indicate reduced peripheral circulation. In isolation, it may not be critical, but when combined with hypotension and cool skin, it becomes part of the overall picture suggesting decreased perfusion and should be monitored carefully.