Verbal or telephone orders may be taken by which person?

• A. UIRT or nurse only
• B. A registered nurse only
• C. Nurse or medical technician only
• D. Anyone assigned to the ward

Answer: (B)

Verbal or telephone orders carry a higher risk of miscommunication, so they must be received by someone authorized to document and verify them in the patient’s record. A registered nurse has the training and legal authority to receive the order, read it back for accuracy, clarify any ambiguities, confirm the patient’s identity, and enter the order correctly into the chart. This creates a safe, auditable trail and helps prevent errors that could affect patient care.

Other personnel, such as unlicensed staff or technicians, do not have the authority to take or document these orders, and allowing them to do so would violate policy and compromise safety. For this reason, the appropriate choice is that a registered nurse only may take verbal or telephone orders.