Regarding pregnancy when administering standing order medications, what should you consider?

• A. Consulting medical control is required for all pregnant patients before any standing order medication.
• B. The pregnancy status has no impact on standing orders, so no considerations needed.
• C. Many meds have pregnancy considerations; check standing orders for safety and consult medical control if uncertain.
• D. All standing order medications are prohibited in pregnancy.

Answer: (C)

Pregnancy can change how drugs affect a patient, so you must treat standing orders as guidance that may have pregnancy-specific safety notes. Many medications have considerations for use during pregnancy, including potential risks to the fetus or altered dosing needs. The right approach is to review the standing orders for any pregnancy-related cautions and, if there is any doubt about safety or appropriateness, contact medical control for guidance before giving the medication. It's not universal prohibitions or a blanket requirement to call for every pregnant patient, but you do need to verify safety and seek direction when unsure.