If a physician orders a treatment that conflicts with unit policy, what is the correct action?

• A. Verify policy, discuss with the physician, offer safe alternatives, and escalate as needed.
• B. Immediately override the physician's order without discussion.
• C. Ignore the conflict and continue as ordered.
• D. Report the issue to legal counsel only.

Answer: (A)

When an order conflicts with unit policy, the safest and most appropriate approach is to verify the current policy, discuss the order with the physician to understand intent, offer safe alternatives that comply with the policy, and escalate to a supervisor or appropriate authority if needed. This sequence protects patient safety by ensuring care aligns with established standards and gives the physician a chance to clarify or adjust the plan within the policy framework. Directly overriding the order without discussion bypasses safeguards, while ignoring the conflict or contacting legal counsel only does not address the clinical safety issue or establish the right care plan.