What action should a charge nurse take when a prescription is needed?

When a prescription is needed, the appropriate action for a charge nurse is to contact the prescriber. This ensures that the prescription is accurate, reflects the current medical needs of the patient, and adheres to legal and professional standards in nursing practice. The prescriber has the authority and responsibility to make clinical decisions and prescribe medication based on the patient's specific condition and history.

Writing the prescription themselves could potentially lead to errors and is typically outside the scope of practice for a nurse unless they have specific privileges to do so in certain situations. Asking the patient to request it may place an unnecessary burden on the patient and does not guarantee that the prescription will be written promptly or correctly. Filling it from memory risks significant harm due to the potential for errors in medication type, dosage, or instructions. Thus, the most responsible and effective action is to communicate with the prescriber directly.