During a home visit, the nurse suspects that an older patient recovering from an acute illness is not taking medications as prescribed. What should the nurse assess to determine the patient's adherence to prescribed medications? (Select all that apply.)
a. Use of over-the-counter or herbal remedies
b. Pharmacy that filled the patient's prescriptions
c. Location of the medications in the patient's home
d. Frequency with which medication doses are being skipped
e. Frequency with which medications are being taken as prescribed
ANS: A, D, E
A. D. E. Older patients may use different treatments for ailments. Over-the-counter medications or herbal remedies may be substituted for prescribed medications. Older patients also may skip doses to save money. The nurse needs to assess the frequency with which medications are being taken as prescribed, the number of doses missed, and if other remedies are being used in place of prescribed medications. B. C. The pharmacy that filled the prescriptions and the location of the medications in the patient's home would not contribute to the patient's non-adherence to the prescribed medication regimen.
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