An elderly patient tells the nurse that he is "tired" of having his medication doses changed so many times and wants to find a doctor who "knows what he's doing."

Question

With which of the following should the nurse respond to this patient? 1. Your doctor is using different doses to see how the medications react with your body. This has to occur so that you don't get side effects or problems from the medications.
2. There are many other doctors who are taking on new patients at this time.
3. Maybe you should only get half of the prescriptions filled.
4. I know what you mean. It is annoying.

Answer 1

1

Rationale: The patient is complaining about the physician's plan to "start low and go slow" when prescribing medications. The nurse's best response would be to explain how the different doses react in the body and the physician's attempt to prevent side effects or other pharmacological effects from the medications. The nurse should not suggest that the patient find a new physician. The nurse should also not encourage the patient to only have half of the prescriptions filled. The nurse should not agree with the patient.