RN/LPN will attempt to clarify and/or resolve questions resulting from unclear medical orders/care. The nurse should question a medical order or care that he/she feels is inappropriate or unsafe, while utilizing the chain of command.

1. Discuss the medical order with the Clinical Services Manager, Care Delivery Facilitator, Charge Nurse or

peers to validate the presence of a problem.

2. If a medical order given by an intern or resident cannot be resolved by the intern or resident and nurses, the

Chief Resident on the service should be called for clarification.

3. If the medical order was written by the Chief Resident and the problem cannot be resolved, the Clinical

Services Manager, patient's staff physician or ADON should be contacted to intervene.

4. The Clinical Services Manager or a nursing administrator should be consulted at any time a problem

cannot be resolved in timely manner.

5. In the event that the problem cannot be resolved by nursing and medicine, risk management, hospital administration or medical director will be asked to intervene.

Clinical Policy / Chain of Command /MS.1.05

If the question concerning the patient's medical orders or care is an ethical one, the issue will be referred to the representative on the Ethics Committee.

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