Question

A nurse on a medical unit is preparing to discharge a client to home. Which of the following actions should the nurse take as part of the medication reconciliation process?

Option 1: Seal unused medications from the facility in a plastic bag.
Option 2: Evaluate the client's ability to self-administer medications.
Option 3: Report an identified discrepancy to The Joint Commission.
Option 4: Compare prescriptions with medications the client received while at the facility.

Answer 1

The correct action for medication reconciliation at discharge is to compare prescriptions with medications the client received while at the facility to ensure accurate continuation of care.

Step-by-step explanation:

As part of the medication reconciliation process when preparing to discharge a client to home, a nurse should take several actions to ensure the safety and well-being of the patient. The correct action from the provided options is: Option 4: Compare prescriptions with medications the client received while at the facility. This step involves ensuring that the medications prescribed for home use are in alignment with the treatment received in the facility and any changes are accurately communicated. It is also important to assess the client's understanding and capability to manage their medication regimen, which is reflected in evaluating the client's ability to self-administer medications. However, this is not listed as one of the options for the medication reconciliation process specifically. Sealing unused medications and reporting discrepancies to The Joint Commission are separate protocols that might be part of overall patient safety and quality control but do not directly relate to medication reconciliation at the point of discharge.