A physician writes the following order for a patient experiencing preterm labor and then leaves to see another patient: MgSO4, 4 grams IV over 20 min. Which of the following should be the nurse's next action?

Explanation

•The nurse should ask the physician to clarify and rewrite the order.

•MSO4, MgSO4, and MS are all on the Joint Commission's official "Do Not Use" abbreviation list. They can be easily confused with one another and are not acceptable abbreviations. The physician needs to clarify and make a new order.

•Other unapproved abbreviations include IU for international units, u for a unit, QD, and QOD or any version of it, and trailing zeros or lack of leading zeros.

Incorrect options:

•Do not ask another nurse to confirm the medication ordered. As the nurse taking the order and giving the drug, it is your license on the line. If you want to ask an authority, call the pharmacist, who would be able to confirm that this is an unapproved abbreviation.

•The nurse should not prepare to give magnesium sulfate OR morphine sulfate due to the possibility of confusion in the order.

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