A patient who is being discharged today is going home with an inhaler. The patient is to administer 2 puffs of the inhaler twice daily. The inhaler contains 200 puffs. When should the nurse appropriately advise the patient to refill the medication?
A) 6 weeks from the start of using the inhaler
B) As soon as the patient leaves the hospital
C) When the inhaler is half empty.
D) 50 days after discharge

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Six weeks will be about the time the inhaler will need to be refilled. The inhaler should last the patient 50 days (2 puffs * 2/twice daily = 4; 200/4 = 50); the nurse should advise the patient to refill the prescription when there are 7 to 10 days of medication remaining. Refilling it as soon as the patient leaves the hospital or when the inhaler is half empty is too early. If the patient waits 50 days, the patient will run out of medication before it can be refilled.

A Patient Who Is Being Discharged Today Is Going Home