Author Question: A community health nurse is preparing a teaching plan regarding medications and safety for a new ... (Read 74 times)

sam.t96 · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

A community health nurse is preparing a teaching plan regarding medications and safety for a new parent class. Which topics should be addressed?

1. Parents should maintain a list of current medications for each child.
2. Parents should be aware of each child's medication allergies.
3. Parents should know what the child's prescribed medication is for, how it should be administered, and when to expect the child to feel better.
4. Parents should be aware that any leftover medication should be appropriately disposed of, not saved for future use.
5. Parents should read the drug label for any foods the child should avoid while taking the medication and for possible adverse effects to watch out for.

Question 2

The nurse is preparing a teaching plan for an older patient who is taking multiple medications. Which principles should the nurse keep in mind during the planning phase?

1. The patient should use only one pharmacy to fill prescriptions.
2. The patient should keep a list of all medications for easy accessibility.
3. Polypharmacy is a common cause of medication errors in older patients.
4. Polypharmacy is unique to older patients and is the most common cause of medication errors.
5. The patient should be aware of each prescribed medication, the dose, and possible side effects.

Melissahxx · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 1,2,3,4
Rationale 1: Parents should make a complete list of all prescribed medications, over-the-counter drugs, and any vitamins the child takes.
Rationale 2: It is very important that parents be aware of a child's allergies in order to prevent an unnecessary allergic response.
Rationale 3: Parents should know what condition the child's medication is prescribed for, and how, when, and how much to administer. It is also important for parents to know when to expect the child to feel better so a follow-up visit can be made if the child is not feeling better.
Rationale 4: Parents should be aware that it is not safe to self-diagnose and treat with leftover medication.
Rationale 5: Parents should be aware the label often describes food and drinks to avoid. The label will not describe possible adverse effects; the nurse will need to describe these to the parents.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 1,2,3,5
Rationale 1: It is common for older patients to have medical conditions requiring the use of multiple medications that could have possible interactions. Using one pharmacy will ensure the pharmacist will discover any problematic interactions between multiple drugs.
Rationale 2: Keeping a list available is important for unexpected trips to a health care facility.
Rationale 3: The use of multiple drugs for multiple chronic conditions is a common cause for medications errors in older patients.
Rationale 4: Polypharmacy is not unique to older patients, although it is most often seen in this group.
Rationale 5: Knowing the names, dose, and possible side effects of medications will reduce the risk for medication errors.