Question

It is a busy day on the medical-surgical floor, and the nurse must teach a patient ready for discharge about his medications. How can the nurse most efficiently utilize her time and provide this education?

1) Write down instructions so the patient can read them at home.
2) Discuss the information while assisting the patient with his bath.
3) Educate the patient about his medications as each one is given.
4) Follow up with the patient after discharge with a phone call.

Answer 1

The nurse can efficiently educate the patient about medications by teaching as each one is given, combining administration with education.

Step-by-step explanation:

To most efficiently utilize her time and provide medication education to a patient ready for discharge on a busy medical-surgical floor, the nurse should consider educate the patient about his medications as each one is given. This method combines the practical process of administration with the educational opportunity, allowing the patient to connect the information with the action directly. If circumstances allow, the nurse can further reinforce this education with written instructions for the patient to take home, but the immediate education tied to the act of taking the medication will likely be the most memorable and helpful in ensuring proper at-home medication management.