For a patient who has difficulty swallowing, which form of medication can the nurse crush?

A. STAT Order.: A STAT order is for medication that must be administered immediately, usually in emergency or urgent situations. It is a one-time order that requires prompt action and is not given on an as-needed basis.

B. Standing Order.: A standing order is a pre-established protocol allowing nurses to administer specific medications or treatments under defined conditions without obtaining a new order each time. It is typically used for standard care procedures rather than individualized pain management.

C. PRN Order.: A PRN (pro re nata) order means “as needed.” It allows the nurse to administer medication when the patient reports symptoms such as pain, nausea, or anxiety. In this case, postoperative pain medication prescribed as needed is a PRN order.

D. Routine Order.: A routine order specifies medications to be given at regular, scheduled intervals, such as daily or every 8 hours. It does not depend on the patient’s symptom presentation like a PRN order does.

A. Defer the calculation process to the physician.: It is the nurse’s professional responsibility to calculate and verify medication dosages before administration. Deferring this task to the physician compromises accountability.

B. Call the pharmacy to provide the appropriate calculations.: While pharmacists can assist with complex dosing, the nurse should independently perform and verify dosage calculations. Relying solely on the pharmacy removes a critical safety check within the medication administration process.

C. Consult a current drug book to confirm the new dosage.: Referring to a drug reference is an excellent step for verifying safe dosage ranges and medication information but does not replace the need for independent dose calculation verification.

D. Have another licensed nurse confirm the calculation.: The best way to minimize error is to double-check the dosage with another licensed nurse. Independent verification ensures accuracy, particularly for high-risk medications such as insulin, heparin, and opioids, enhancing overall medication safety.