If a nurse notices a discrepancy between the medication order and the MAR, what is the immediate action?

• A. Administer as ordered
• B. Verify with prescribing clinician; clarify or adjust order.
• C. Ignore and proceed
• D. Ask patient

Answer: (B)

When you notice a mismatch between the MAR and the medication order, the priority is patient safety. A discrepancy could mean the wrong drug, dose, route, or timing, so you must pause and verify with the prescribing clinician to clarify or adjust the order before giving anything. This ensures the administration matches the clinician’s intent and prevents potential harm. Administering as ordered would perpetuate the error, ignoring it is unsafe, and asking the patient for confirmation is not a reliable way to verify a med order.