Question

1. You are a nurse caring for a 47-year-old patient who is homeless. He is admitted to your unit two to three times per year. His medical history includes diabetes mellitus (type 2), hypertension, and alcoholism. After extensive hygienic interventions (to decrease his body odor, wash his hair, and perform oral care), you complete your assessment and find that he is not in compliance with any of his dietary and medication instructions from his last admission.

1. Considering his history, what types of medications would you expect to be ordered?

2. Outline the patient variables that could impact the action of these medications.

3. Indicate the components of an acceptable medication order.

4. Describe acceptable practice when nurses are ordered to dispense a medication with which they are unfamiliar.

5. How would you identify that patient before dispensing his ordered medication?

6. What measures would you take if the patient refused his oral medications because he didn’t like the taste?

2. You are a nurse preparing a medication safety presentation for your unit’s monthly staff meeting. The focus of the presentation is avoiding medication errors and the necessary due diligence for every member of the nursing staff.
   1. When can medication errors occur?

2. Which classes of medications are more typically connected to medication errors?

3. Outline the appropriate label check opportunities.

4. What “rights” should be monitored to ensure accurate medication administration?

5. Describe how often nurses should check medication data to protect their patients.
6. Indicate the additional information you would expect to document upon administering a narcotic medication.

7. What steps are pertinent to administering medications via GI tube to maintain patient comfort and safety?

8. Outline precautions necessary to prevent needlesticks.

Answer 1

Medications for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus might be prescribed based on the actions they perform when they are taken. Some of the actions include:

• stimulation of the pancreas to produce and release more insulin.
• stopping the production and release of glucose from the liver
• improving the sensitivity of cells to insulin
• slowing the movement of food in the stomach.
• Blocking the action of enzymes in the stomach that break down carbs.

One of the most effective medication in treating type 2 diabetes is Colesevelam (Welchol)

It works by lowering bad cholesterol and has little effect in lowering blood glucose when combined with other diabetes medications.

It does not have very bad side effects. Some of them are Gas, Constipation, and Ingestion.

Lowering cholesterol can lower the risk of heart attacks and hypertension. It can also help control Diabetes. Even though making changes to the diet is the first step to maintain cholesterol levels and control your blood sugar levels. Cutting on food that is oily and full of trans fat is a great way to make these changes. The nurse should also advise their patients with diabetes to include physical activity. Exercising 2 to 3 hours a week can help improve HDL. Food is rich in Fibre and fish instead of red meat. Fishes are good for improving Omega 3 fatty acids.

Full name of the Client,

Date and the time of the order

Name of the medication

Ordered dosage

Form of the medication

Route of administration

Time or frequency of administration

Signature of the ordering physician or licensed independent practitioner's signature.

Nursing Ethics dictates that if a patient is to receive a medication that is unheard of or is not familiar to the nurse who is to give the medication, That nurse should never give the medication and insist that information be provided to them. It is the duty of the Healthcare administration to provide the structure necessary for nurses to administer medications safely. Policies do protect nurses in case of litigation occurs but not following the policy or administrating medication can not only lead to a suspension of the license and also have a lawsuit filed against them.

How to check the right patient is being given the medication

• Ask the patient to identify himself/herself.
• Check the name on the order and the patient.
• Use 2 identifiers.
• When available, use technology like barcode

If a patient denies taking their oral medications for some reason like the bad breadth, or some discomfort in the stomach, Alternatives can be discussed with the physician. If they report a bad taste left after taking a medicine, a Pudding or some sweet could be provided to get over it. For bad breath, mints could be a way to overcome it. If swallowing is an issue, The medication can be turned into powdered form and mixed into food which can be consumed without chewing such as applesauce.