If you cannot read a physician's handwriting on a prescription, what should you do?

Contacting your supervisor, pharmacist, or physician is the best course of action when faced with unreadable handwriting on a prescription. Clear and accurate communication is vital in a healthcare setting to ensure patient safety and appropriate medication administration. By reaching out to a supervisor or pharmacist, you can obtain clarification about the prescription, ensuring that the patient receives the correct medication and dosage. This approach also helps mitigate the risk of potential errors that could arise from guessing or misinterpretation of the prescription.

Administering medication based on unclear instructions can lead to serious consequences, including adverse drug reactions or ineffective treatment. Seeking assistance from another staff member, while it may seem helpful, does not ensure that the medication being given is correct or aligned with the physician's intent. Therefore, the most reliable and prudent step is to communicate with the prescribing authority or a qualified professional who can provide the needed clarification.