The nurse admits a patient who has an acute kidney infection but refuses to take any medication. Which is the best initial nursing intervention to implement the therapeutic regimen?

Question

a. Notify the healthcare provider of the situ-ation.
b. Inform the patient about the risk of renal failure.
c. Talk with the patient about taking the an-tibiotics.
d. Disguise the medications so the patient takes them.

Answer 1

C
The basis of the patient's refusal is unknown; discussing the situation with the patient provides the nurse with an opportunity to clarify misunderstandings, provide information, and gather val-uable patient data to plan nursing care. Notifying the healthcare provider is premature. The nurse takes care of the situation initially by educating the patient. Emphasizing the risk of renal failure may be interpreted as an indirect threat by the patient. The patient has the right to refuse taking the medication, and disguising the medication is neither indicated nor appropriate.