Health care teams that include physicians and nurses, work together to restore sick patients to optimal health. The nurse may carry out certain nursing interventions independently but will need to call on a patient's physician when certain situations arise.

Medical Emergencies

During emergency situations such as a patient suspected to have pericardial tamponade, the nurse must call the physician. This is because the physician, not the nurse is qualified to intervene and save the patient's life.

Medication Clarification

Physicians write drug prescriptions that nurses administer. If a nurse does not understand a patient's prescription, due to not being able to read the physician's handwriting, she can call the physician to clarify the prescription.

Unstable Patients

When a patient's condition changes for the worse or a patient develops new symptoms, the nurse can call the the physician to alert him about the new changes. The physician may then change the course of treatment for that patient.

Medication Errors

If a nurse discovers that a patient's prescription is wrong, for example a dose is too high, too low or inappropriate for the illness, she can call the physician to make him aware of the error. The physician in this case,will have an opportunity to rewrite the prescription.

Holding Medication

Physicians may instruct nurses to call them if certain situations arise with regard to their patients. One such instruction may be to call if she has to hold or not administer a patient's medication due to changes in blood pressure values or a change in laboratory findings.

Source:

"Fundamentals of Nursing"; Patricia A. Potter, Ph.D and Anne Griffin Perry, Ed.D ; 2009.

"Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice"; Sandra M. Nettina ANP-BC.; 2009.