If a medication order is unclear, what is the correct action before administration?

• A. Administer the dose as written to avoid delays.
• B. Guess based on experience.
• C. Seek clarification from the prescribing clinician or pharmacist before administration.
• D. Cancel the order and do not administer.

Answer: (C)

When a medication order is unclear, the safety of the patient depends on getting a definite instruction before giving it. The right step is to contact the prescribing clinician or pharmacist to clarify the specifics—drug name, dose, route, frequency, and any special instructions. This verification helps ensure you administer exactly what was intended, reducing the risk of medication errors such as wrong dose, wrong drug, or wrong route.

In practice, identify what’s unclear, reach out through the facility’s approved channels, ask precise questions to resolve the ambiguity, and repeat back the clarified order to confirm you understood it correctly. Document the clarification and proceed to administration only after you have a clear, approved direction.

Administering as written without clarification, or guessing based on experience, can lead to serious harm. Simply canceling the order without seeking guidance isn’t appropriate either; the patient may need the medication, but it must be clarified first to avoid harm.