A 75-year-old patient is readmitted to the hospital to treat ...

[casperchen82]

A 75-year-old patient is readmitted to the hospital to treat recurrent pneumonia. The patient had been discharged home with a prescription for antibiotics 5 days prior. The nurse admitting this patient will take which initial action?
 
  a. Ask the patient about over-the-counter drug use.
  b. Ask the patient how many doses of the antibiotic have been taken.
  c. Discuss increasing the antibiotic dose with the provider.
  d. Obtain an order for a creatinine clearance test.

Question 2

An older patient who reports a 2- to 3-year history of upper gastrointestinal symptoms will begin taking ranitidine (Zantac) to treat this disorder. The patient has completed a health history form.
 
  The nurse notes that the patient answered no when asked if any medications were being taken. Which action will the nurse take next?
  a. Ask whether the patient uses over-the-counter (OTC) medications.
  b. Obtain a careful dietary history for the past two weeks.
  c. Recommend that the patient take antacid tablets.
  d. Suggest that the patient add high-potassium foods to the diet.

[frre432]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
There are many reasons for non-adherence to a drug regimen in an older patient, so if a patient is readmitted, the nurse should first ascertain whether or not the medications have been used. Asking the patient how many doses have been taken will help to assess this. If it is determined that the patient is taking the drug as ordered, the other steps may be taken.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: A
Many patients do not think of OTC products as medications and often do not list them when asked about medication use. A patient who takes ranitidine along with an OTC antacid could be duplicating medications. A dietary history is important as well but would not be the most important action in this case. The nurse should not recommend antacid tablets or high-potassium foods.

[casperchen82]

Thank you!

[frre432]

Always glad to help...