Question

You have been assigned to be the medica- tion nurse in a long-term care facility to a group of 20 residents, of which 7 are there for short-term rehabilitation after total hip replacement. It is the first time you have worked with this group and therefore are unfamiliar with their medication routines and preferences.

1. The 1900–0730 shift nurse has com- pleted his report and asks you if there are any questions. What information re-

garding the residents themselves would be

beneficial for you to know in order to organize the administra- tion of medications for the shift?

2.The distribution system for this facility is a combination of stock supply and unit dose. Why would these two systems be most appropriate for a long-term care facility?

The Medication Administration Record (MAR) for one of your assigned residents, Mrs. Lowery, is provided for you to use for your shift 0700–1930.

3. For medications you are unfamiliar with, what resources could you use to learn about these medications prior to administration? Which one is the best source of nursing implications?

4. The MAR reflects the “standard” administration times used in the facility when tran- scribing the medication orders. Based on an understanding of pharmacodynamics and medication interactions for the oral medications, which administration times are not appropriate? Explain

1. Mrs. Lowery tells you, “I am not taking all those nine o’clock pills. I can’t swallow them— they get stuck in my throat.”
   1. What information do you need about the ordered medications to address this problem?

Answer 1

Long term nursing is not an easy field it comprise different duties as a medication staff the nurse should aware about each and every patient details case record. Before and after every shift the handover explanation giving to next duty staff is always good. First and foremost thing is nurse must remember 7 rights.

To improve safe medication administration use advanced technology like e-medicine .while handling medication unfamiliar with should follow some resources like pharmacology and nursing books

Most of the long term care home the for a single administration medication time is 62.0+/-4.5 minutes .

It will difficult for 20 residents on time so staff pattern ratio should increase