Final answer:
When a patient is non-compliant with their drug regimen, the nurse must conduct a thorough review, identify barriers to adherence, and potentially employ structured interventions like DOT for effective treatment.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a patient does not adhere to a prescribed drug regimen, the process involves several steps aimed at understanding the reasons behind non-compliance and addressing them appropriately. Direct supervision by a registered nurse is often integral to this process. First, the nurse must review the patient's history and current condition thoroughly. Assessing patient needs and understanding individual circumstances is vital before implementing any changes to the treatment plan.
The nurse should have a detailed discussion with the patient to identify barriers to compliance, such as forgetfulness, misunderstanding of the regimen, or the inability to afford medication. Once the reasons for non-compliance are identified, the healthcare team can take steps to rectify the situation. This may include education about the importance of adherence to the regimen, adjustments to the treatment plan to make it more manageable, or potentially enacting a more structured approach like Directly Observed Therapy (DOT). DOT has been effective in ensuring compliance in cases such as TB treatment but may not be practical or necessary for all conditions.
Constant communication and collaboration among the healthcare team, which includes the surgeon, nurse, and anesthesia professional, are critical to ensure the recovery and care of the patient are optimized. Additionally, monitoring for any signs of diversion or misuse of medications, as might happen with healthcare workers struggling with addiction, is crucial for patient safety.