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.
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.
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