The LPN receives a telephone order from a physician. What is the correct procedure?

Telephone/verbal order procedure:

Safety: High error risk due to misheard words or numbers — standardised read-back prevents most errors.

Correct process: Write the order as spoken; read the COMPLETE order back to the prescriber; wait for confirmation ('That is correct' or correction); document as telephone/verbal order with: date, time, complete order, prescriber's name, and your name/credentials.

Physician co-signature: Required within facility timeframe (typically 24 hours to 72 hours depending on facility policy and state law).

Never: Modify the order; delay reading back; execute before writing.

Specific cautions: Numbers (say 'one-five' not '15' for high-risk numbers); medication names (spell it); 'U' for units must be written as 'units' — 'U' can be misread as zero.

Pn scope: LPNs may receive telephone orders within their scope of practice — check facility policy; some facilities restrict certain order types.

Jcaho/cms: Require read-back of all verbal and telephone orders for medications.