A community pharmacist calls the clinic and reports that a patient has asked for pain medication refills early for the last 2 months. What action should be taken by the nurse?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse should notify the health care provider of the patient's request for early refills, as this could indicate a potential issue with medication misuse or addiction. The health care provider can then assess the situation and determine the best course of action, which may include adjusting the patient's medication or referring them for addiction treatment. Asking the pharmacist if the patient has received medications early from other providers may also be helpful information to share with the health care provider. However, simply telling the pharmacist to refill the prescriptions early would not be an appropriate or responsible action, as it could enable potentially harmful behavior.

A Community Pharmacist Calls the Clinic and Reports That a Patient