An older adult woman comes into the clinic complaining of feeling ...

[jace]

An older adult woman comes into the clinic complaining of feeling bad since yesterday. She tells the nurse her husband gave her his medication for a headache. Which represents the best response to this information?
 
  a. The cost of medication is high, so sharing is okay, since he has no problems.
  b. You both have the same health problems, so sharing is all right.
  c. Monitoring the drug effect is easier, since he also takes the medication.
  d. When you take his medication, it makes evaluating the effects of your medication harder.

Question 2

A patient asks the nurse what the difference is between an OTC sleeping product and a sleeping pill prescribed by a physician. Which is the best response?
 
  a. The OTC sleeping product is safer.
  b. The OTC sleeping product is commonly used.
  c. The OTC sleeping product is easy to swallow.
  d. The OTC sleeping product has smaller tablets.

[Tonyam972]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: D
Many older patients also diagnose each other's health problems and share medications, which may make it very difficult for you to evaluate the effects of prescribed medications in a particular patient. Include the dangers of this in patient teaching.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: A
There is a wider margin of safety with OTC products because most of these drugs undergo extensive testing before being marketed and many have been changed by the manufacturer based on information gathered after years of OTC usage by consumers.