Nursing Jurisprudence and Ethics for Texas Nurses Practice Exam

Which of the following actions supports a nurse’s duty to provide safe patient care?

1. Adhering strictly to the physician's orders without question.

2. Contacting a physician to clarify a medication order.

3. Delegating patient assessment to unlicensed assistive personnel.

4. Nominating oneself for a higher professional rank.

The correct answer is: Adhering strictly to the physician's orders without question.

The action that best supports a nurse's duty to provide safe patient care is contacting a physician to clarify a medication order. This indicates that the nurse is actively prioritizing patient safety and ensuring that any ambiguity in orders is resolved before proceeding. Nurses have the responsibility to advocate for their patients, which includes verifying unclear or potentially harmful orders. This proactive approach mitigates the risk of medication errors that could arise from misunderstandings or miscommunications. Adhering strictly to a physician's orders without question does not necessarily ensure safety, especially if the orders are unclear or if the nurse has concerns about them. Similarly, delegating patient assessment to unlicensed assistive personnel can compromise the quality of care if the tasks are not appropriate for delegation. Nominating oneself for a higher professional rank, while a positive career move, does not directly influence patient safety in immediate nursing responsibilities.