Question

the health care provider writes medication orders at 8 am on march 10, 2020, for a client and signs the orders. which order(s) should the nurse question? (select all that apply.)

digoxin 0.125 mg p.o. everyday
lasix 20 mg p.o. daily
multivitamin daily
colace 200 mg p.o. t.i.d.
tylenol 650 mg p.r.n. for pain
ampicillin 250 mg q6h

Explanation:

Analyze components of a complete medication order

A complete medication order must contain:

1. Patient's name
2. Date and time the order was written
3. Name of the medication
4. Dosage of the medication
5. Route of administration
6. Frequency/time of administration
7. Signature of the prescribing provider

We must evaluate each option against these requirements and standard safety guidelines (such as The Joint Commission's "Do Not Use" list).

Evaluate Digoxin order

Using the Medical Notation Safety and Medical Abbreviations knowledge points:

• Order: "Digoxin 0.125 mg p.o. everyday"
• Analysis:
• Medication name: Digoxin (present)
• Dosage: 0.125 mg (correctly uses a leading zero, no trailing zero)
• Route: p.o. (by mouth, present)
• Frequency: "everyday" is written out, which is safe. However, "every day" or "daily" is preferred over "everyday" as a single word, but more importantly, "q.d." or "QD" is on the "Do Not Use" list, whereas writing it out is acceptable.
• Let's check if there are other issues. The order is complete and safe.

Evaluate Lasix order

Using the Medical Abbreviations and Medical Notation Safety knowledge points:

• Order: "Lasix 20 mg p.o. daily"
• Analysis:
• Medication name: Lasix (present)
• Dosage: 20 mg (present, safe notation)
• Route: p.o. (present)
• Frequency: "daily" (present, safe and written out)
• This is a complete and safe order.

Evaluate Multivitamin order

Using the Medical Notation Safety knowledge points:

• Order: "Multivitamin daily"
• Analysis:
• Medication name: Multivitamin (present)
• Dosage: Missing (e.g., 1 tablet, 1 capsule, or specific volume)
• Route: Missing (e.g., p.o.)
• Frequency: daily (present)
• Because it lacks both dosage and route, the nurse must question this order.

Evaluate Colace order

Using the Medical Abbreviations and Medical Notation Safety knowledge points:

• Order: "Colace 200 mg p.o. t.i.d."
• Analysis:
• Medication name: Colace (present)
• Dosage: 200 mg (present)
• Route: p.o. (present)
• Frequency: t.i.d. (three times a day, acceptable abbreviation)
• This is a complete and safe order.

Evaluate Tylenol order

Using the Medical Abbreviations and Medical Notation Safety knowledge points:

• Order: "Tylenol 650 mg p.r.n. for pain"
• Analysis:
• Medication name: Tylenol (present)
• Dosage: 650 mg (present)
• Route: Missing (e.g., p.o., rectal)
• Frequency: p.r.n. for pain (present)
• Because the route of administration is missing, the nurse must question this order.

Evaluate Ampicillin order

Using the Medical Abbreviations and Medical Notation Safety knowledge points:

• Order: "Ampicillin 250 mg q6h"
• Analysis:
• Medication name: Ampicillin (present)
• Dosage: 250 mg (present)
• Route: Missing (e.g., p.o., IV, IM)
• Frequency: q6h (every 6 hours, present)
• Because the route of administration is missing, the nurse must question this order.

Answer:

• Digoxin 0.125 mg p.o. everyday
• Lasix 20 mg p.o. daily
• Multivitamin daily (Correct answer)
• Colace 200 mg p.o. t.i.d.
• Tylenol 650 mg p.r.n. for pain (Correct answer)
• Ampicillin 250 mg q6h (Correct answer)