Question

A nurse is caring for a client with tuberculosis who is on a regimen of four medications. The nurse discovers that the client is not taking all of the medications. What should the nurse say to the client? "You need to take your medications as you were instructed. Do you need supervision?" "Taking many medications can be difficult. Tell me about the difficulties you're having." "Why aren't you taking your medications? Don't you want to get better?" "Don't you realize that resistance can develop if you don't take your medications properly?"

Answer 1

A nurse should address a client's nonadherence to tuberculosis medication with empathy, such as asking about the difficulties they are encountering, to facilitate adherence and prevent antibiotic resistance and the development of drug-resistant TB strains.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a nurse discovers a client with tuberculosis is not taking all of the prescribed medications, the most appropriate response would be empathetic and non-judgmental, such as: "Taking many medications can be difficult. Tell me about the difficulties you're having." This encourages open dialogue, allowing the nurse to understand the reasons for nonadherence and to provide targeted support. The full completion of a TB therapy is critical to prevent the development of antibiotic resistance, which can lead to harder-to-treat multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB). These strains are a significant concern due to the misuse or mismanagement of antibiotic therapies. Programs like directly observed therapy (DOT) have been implemented to ensure adherence and effective treatment, overcoming challenges related to patient compliance.