A patient requires immediate medication upon admission. Which type of order should the prescriber write?

In a medical context, when immediate medication is required upon a patient's admission, a stat order is the appropriate choice. A stat order indicates that the medication must be administered as soon as possible, typically within 30 minutes, to address urgent medical needs. This type of order is essential for critical situations where delaying treatment could lead to deterioration of the patient's condition.

Routine orders, on the other hand, are for medications that can be given at scheduled times based on a longer timeframe, and they are not intended for immediate action. Standard orders are often pre-established protocols for medications that may not require urgent administration. Scheduled orders are for medications that are to be given at specific intervals but again do not have the immediacy that a stat order mandates. Thus, for cases requiring immediate attention, the stat order is the one that ensures timely intervention.