The nurse determines that the transcribed dose of hydromorphone (Dilaudid) on the medication record of the oncology client is not within a safe range. Which action should the nurse take first? A. Verify the order was transcribed correctly B. Give the dose anyway because client is terminal C. Alter the dose to the recommended amount D. Call the pharmacy to approve the dosage

In order to determine the best course of action, let's go through each option and consider the potential consequences of choosing that option. A. Verify the order was transcribed correctly. - This action ensures that the nurse double-checks the order to confirm if it is accurate or contains errors. This is a proper and safe approach before making any decisions. B. Give the dose anyway because the client is terminal. - Administering an unsafe dose to a patient is medically and ethically wrong, regardless of their prognosis. This option should be eliminated. C. Alter the dose to the recommended amount. - Changing the dose without consulting the prescriber or verifying the accuracy of the order can have negative consequences for the patient and is not recommended. D. Call the pharmacy to approve the dosage. - While this option is helpful in confirming the dosage, it's not the first action the nurse should take. The nurse should first verify the order before contacting the pharmacy for confirmation.

After evaluating each option, the appropriate first action the nurse should take is: A. Verify the order was transcribed correctly. - This action ensures that the nurse checks if there are any errors in the transcribed order while keeping patient safety in mind.