The nurse planning discharge teaching for an older client with multiple prescriptions for multiple chronic illnesses may discuss which strategies to avoid medication errors at home?
1. When possible, take medications at the same time each day.
2. Keep a written record of medications taken, including the name, dose, date, and time.
3. Use a pill holder as a memory aid.
4. Plan to have a family member remind the client each day to take medication.
5. Request easy-to-open bottles so the client will not have difficulty opening the bottles.
Correct Answer: 1,2,3
Rationale 1: Setting a schedule whereby medications are taken at the same time each day may prevent clients from forgetting to take medications or forgetting if they did take their medication.
Rationale 2: Keeping a written record will help clients remember to take medications and to remember if medication has been taken.
Rationale 3: Pill holders have compartments for each day of the week and time of day.
Rationale 4: This may be helpful but is not a best strategy. Many older adults do not have family members living with them or nearby.
Rationale 5: This is not a strategy to prevent a medication error.
Global Rationale: Setting a schedule whereby medications are taken at the same time each day may prevent clients from forgetting to take medications or forgetting if they did take their medication. Keeping a written record will help clients remember to take medications and to remember if medication has been taken. Pill holders have compartments for each day of the week and time of day. Planning to have a family remember remind the client to take the medications each day may be helpful but is not a best strategy. Many older adults do not have family members living with them or nearby. Requesting easy-to-open bottles so the client will not have difficulty opening them is not a strategy to prevent a medication error.
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