A patient with schizophrenia has just been assigned to hospice care. When contacting the health care provider for medication on admission of the patient to hospice, what orders should the nurse request in addition to medication for pain control?
1. Antipsychotic medication should be continued at the same dosage.
2. Antipsychotic medication should be immediately discontinued.
3. Antipsychotic medication dosage should be increased.
4. Antipsychotic medication should be discontinued after one to two weeks in hospice.
Answer: 1
Explanation: If a patient had been prescribed antidepressant or antipsychotic medication, discontinuing these medications at the initiation of hospice care might be counterproductive and create unneeded emotional distress. The medication should be ordered and administered at the same dosage and frequency until patient assessment determines a need for change. As in all aspects of nursing care, patient preferences must be assessed and taken into consideration but the decision requires a considered collaboration between the patient and all members of the hospice team.
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