A patient prefers not to take the daily allergy pill this morning because it causes drowsiness throughout the day. Which response by the nurse is best?
A) "The physician ordered it; therefore, you must take your medication every morning at the same time whether you're drowsy or not."
B) "Let's see if we can change the time you take your pill to 9 PM, so the drowsiness occurs when you would normally be sleeping."
C) "You can skip this medication on days when you need to be awake and alert."
D) "Try to get as much done as you can before you take your pill, so you can sleep in the afternoon."

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse should use knowledge about the medication to educate the patient about potential response to medications. Then the medication schedule can be altered based on that knowledge. It is the patient's right to refuse medication; however, the nurse should educate the patient on the importance and effects of the medication. Asking a patient to fit a schedule around a medication is unreasonable and will decrease compliance. The nurse should be supportive and should offer solutions to manage medication effects.

A Patient Prefers Not to Take the Daily Allergy Pill