Which nursing intervention will have the greatest impact on minimizing an older adult's risk for re-hospitalization within 30 days of discharge?

Question

a. Providing a depressed individual with a list of suicide prevention hotlines
b. Assessment of the cognitive abilities of a individual who lives alone
c. Evaluation of a cardiac client's comprehension of their prescribed medication therapy
d. Working on balance and strength exercises with a mobility-challenged indi-vidual

Answer 1

ANS: C
Medication discrepancies are the most prevalent adverse event following hospital discharge and the most challenging component of a successful hospital-to-home transition. Attention to accurate pre-hospital medication list, medication reconciliation during hospitalization and at discharge, and patient and family education about medications, requires nursing attention to enhance safety and minimize effectiveness of the therapy and decreasing the risk of re-hospitalization. The remaining options, while appropriate, do not address the issue of inappropriate medication administration resulting in the need to re-hospitalize.