What is the recommended initial step to discontinue a current medication order?

Discontinuing a current medication order correctly is crucial to ensure patient safety and avoid medication errors. The recommended initial step is to directly discontinue the current order. This approach avoids any confusion and ensures that the patient's medication profile is updated immediately in the system, stopping any further administration of the medication.

When the current order is discontinued, it clearly communicates to all healthcare providers involved in the patient's care that the medication should no longer be administered. This helps in preventing any potential adverse effects or complications that might arise from an ongoing unintended medication.

Entering a new order does not directly address the discontinuation of the existing medication, as it could leave the old order active until processed. Notifying the pharmacy might be necessary, but it is not the initial action to take when terminating a medication order. Contacting the patient may also be appropriate for discussing changes, but it should come after ensuring that the medication order is officially discontinued in the healthcare system.