Comprehensive Nursing Pharmacology Q 23
When performing an assessment about medication, the drug history should include:
A. Complete vital signs.
B. Client's goal of therapy.
C. Reason for medication.
D. Administration of OTC medications.
Correct Answer: D. Administration of OTC medications
The nurse should determine if the client is taking any other medications, especially OTC medications because their effects are often minimized. For some medical conditions, a list of previously tried medicines should also be included to help direct future prescribing (e.g. disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs [DMARDs] for rheumatoid arthritis). Traditionally, obtaining a medication history has been undertaken solely by doctors, but pharmacists and suitably trained pharmacy technicians now play a vital role in this process. Other choices are an important part of the assessment, but choice D is the most accurate answer.
Option A: Without an accurate medication history, prescribers may inadvertently make incorrect decisions about a patient’s treatment, causing harm if previously discontinued medicines are restarted, or if current medicines are omitted or prescribed at the wrong dose for the patient.
Option B: There is no national guidance on which source is the ‘gold standard’ for obtaining reliable medication history, nor is there a consensus on how many sources should be used, since all have advantages and disadvantages. Two or more sources are often required; however, one source will usually be sufficient if deemed reliable (e.g. patients that are usually fit and well and take no regular medication).
Option C: Once an accurate medication history has been obtained, this information should be documented in the patient’s medical notes. The medical team should be informed if any changes to the inpatient prescription are required, ensuring a patient’s medicines prescribed on admission correspond to what the patient was taking before admission unless there are any deliberate changes.