Which strategy should be included in the education of an elder adult to prevent polypharmacy?

Encourage elderly clients to keep a list of all medications, including dose and frequency, with them at all times.

Provide only written instructions for medications to elderly clients.

Encourage patients to use multiple pharmacies for convenience.

Teach elderly clients to have a spouse or family member be responsible for of all of their medications.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

A. Encourage elderly clients to keep a list of all medications, including dose and frequency, with them at all times:
Maintaining an accurate list of all medications, including doses and frequencies, helps prevent polypharmacy by ensuring that healthcare providers have a complete picture of what the patient is taking. This list can be critical in preventing drug interactions, avoiding duplicate therapies, and ensuring that the patient does not inadvertently take conflicting medications. It also aids in coordinating care among multiple providers.

B. Provide only written instructions for medications to elderly clients:
While written instructions are helpful, relying solely on them may not be sufficient. Elderly clients may have difficulty reading or understanding written instructions due to various factors like visual impairments or cognitive decline. A comprehensive approach, including verbal instructions and opportunities for clarification, is often more effective.

C. Encourage patients to use multiple pharmacies for convenience:
Using multiple pharmacies can increase the risk of polypharmacy because it may lead to a lack of coordination and awareness of all the medications the patient is taking. A single pharmacy or a centralized medication management system is generally more effective in tracking and managing medications to avoid interactions and duplications.
D. Teach elderly clients to have a spouse or family member be responsible for all of their medications:
While involving family members in medication management can be beneficial, it is not a strategy to prevent polypharmacy. The primary responsibility for managing medications should lie with the patient, in collaboration with healthcare providers, to ensure accuracy and understanding. Family members can assist, but they should not replace the need for personal medication management and monitoring.

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Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A. An antibiotic medication that has a side effect of nausea when taken without food:
Nausea is a common side effect of many medications, including antibiotics, when taken on an empty stomach. While this side effect may cause discomfort, it is generally not a contraindication to medication administration. Patients can often manage this side effect by taking the medication with food or as advised by their healthcare provider.

B. Administering medications to a client under 4 months of age:
While administering medications to very young children requires special considerations and dosing adjustments, it is not inherently a contraindication. The key is to ensure that the medications are appropriate for the age and weight of the infant, and are prescribed and dosed correctly.

C. An antihypertensive medication given for high-blood pressure that causes orthostatic hypotension:
Orthostatic hypotension is a known side effect of some antihypertensive medications. While this side effect needs to be managed carefully, it does not represent a contraindication to the medication. Adjusting the dose or changing medications may be required to manage this side effect.

D. A medication with a Blackbox warning that the drug causes tendonitis and the patient has a history of tendonitis:
A Black Box warning is the strictest warning put in the labelling of a prescription drug by the FDA. It indicates that the drug has significant risk of serious or life-threatening adverse effects. If a medication with a Black Box warning indicates a risk of tendonitis and the patient has a history of tendonitis, this represents a contraindication, as the drug could exacerbate or trigger the condition, posing a serious risk to the patient.

A. This hospital might use a different manufacturer, but the medication is the same." B. "What does your usual pill look like?" C. This is the medication prescribed by your provider." D. "This pill is probably from a different lot number than yours at home."

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A. This hospital might use a different manufacturer, but the medication is the same:
While it is possible that different manufacturers might produce pills of varying appearances, this response does not directly address the client's concern or involve them in verifying the medication. It's important for the nurse to first understand what the client is accustomed to before providing reassurance about the medication.

B. What does your usual pill look like?:
Asking the client to describe their usual pill is the best response. This approach allows the nurse to verify the medication in question by comparing it to the client’s known medication. It also reassures the client that their concerns are being taken seriously and provides an opportunity for the nurse to check if there has been an error or if the medication is indeed correct.

C. This is the medication prescribed by your provider:
While this statement is factual, it does not directly address the client’s concern about the appearance of the medication. It's important to involve the client in verifying the medication to ensure they are receiving the correct drug and to maintain their trust.

D. This pill is probably from a different lot number than yours at home:
This response assumes the issue is related to the lot number, which may not be the case. It does not involve the client in the verification process or address their specific concern about the appearance of the medication. Providing a more thorough and engaging response would be more appropriate.

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Which strategy should be included in the education of an elder adult to prevent polypharmacy?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is reviewing a client's prescribed medications. Which of the following situations represents a contraindication to medication administration?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A nurse is preparing to administer a medication to a client who states, "That looks different from the pill I usually take." Which is the best response by the nurse?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

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