Question

You are working in a long-term care facility. You notice that your elderly client doesn’t always swallow his pills and will spit them out after the nurse has left. The best action for you to take is to:

Select one:

a. Give him some applesauce and insist he swallow them

b. Don’t interfere as it isn’t your responsibility

c. Tell the nurse who is administering the medication

d. Report that he hasn’t swallowed the medication in his chart

Answer 1

You are working in a long-term care facility. You notice that your elderly client doesn’t always swallow his pills and will spit them out after the nurse has left.

Then the best action for you to take is to inform the nurse who is administering the medication.

Answer - c. Tell the nurse who is administering the medication

If you informed the charge nurses about this situation then the nurse will be able to discuss the situation with consultant and may able to change the form of medication or try to administer crushed medication if the medication is crushable.

The option "a" and "d" can be practiced but the best response involves giving information to charge nurse.