Care Manager Certification Practice Exam

What is one action a nurse should take to ensure accuracy when receiving a prescription via telephone?

1. Repeat the order back to the provider.

2. Question any part of the order that is unclear.

3. Transcribe the order into the client's health record.

4. Obtain the provider's signature within 8 hr.

The correct answer is: Repeat the order back to the provider.

Repeating the order back to the provider is a critical action to ensure accuracy when receiving a prescription via telephone. This practice, known as "read-back," helps to confirm that both the nurse and the provider have the same understanding of the prescription details, such as the medication name, dosage, route, frequency, and any special instructions. By restating the order, the nurse allows the provider to correct any potential misunderstandings or mistakes immediately, thus enhancing patient safety and reducing the risk of medication errors. While questioning any unclear parts of the order is also important, the initial step of confirming the entire prescription by repeating it allows for a comprehensive check right away. Transcribing the order into the client's health record is necessary, but that should only occur after ensuring the order's accuracy. Lastly, obtaining the provider's signature is relevant to the legal documentation but is not as immediate for clarity and correctness of the order itself as the read-back process.