An elderly patient brings a bag of medications to the clinic. The nurse finds bottles of medications as well as assorted pills in no containers in the bag. What is the nurse's priority action?

A) Dispose of all medications that are not in properly labeled bottles.
B) Confer with a family member about the patient's management of medication.
C) Engage the patient in education about safe storage and labeling of medication.
D) Ask the patient to name the purpose and date of expiration of each medication not in a bottle.

Question

Laurley Nevil · Accepted Answer

Final Answer : C, Explanation :  The patient needs medication education and help with proper, safe, and consistent labeling of medications. There is no evidence that the patient cannot self-administer medication. The nurse does not have the authority to dispose of the patient's property. The nurse would first need to obtain the patient's consent to confer with family. While the patient may be able to name the purpose of each unbottled medication, naming the expiration date is unlikely and may frustrate the patient.

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