what action would you take if a resident refuses medication
Source: The Consultant Pharmacist®, Volume 32, Number 12, December 2017, pp. There are some circumstances in which it might be legal to give you medication, even if you haven’t agreed to take it. The resident designee may be able to encourage the resident to take the medication. 5. In some situations, taking the drug prescribed in a different form may be easier than taking a pill. When the resident/client wants to leave some or all of their medication: Under no circumstances leave the medications with the resident/client. This could lead to the potential serious risk of them: The resident/client spits out some or all of their medications. When the resident spits out their medication: The medication is given incorrectly. Occasionally, residents actively or passively refuse to take medications. For example, some of the anti-dementia drugs are available as a patch or an oral solution. RELIGIOUS BELIEFS; • For essential medication, identify if the resident has capacity to make the decision and conduct a best interest meeting if necessary. In a situation in which a resident retains some cognitive skills and verbal abilities, staff may talk with the resident about the benefits of the medication, encourage the resident to accept appropriate treatment, and listen to the resident as he explains why he does not want the treatment. what to do if the person is having a meal or is asleep. Lack of knowledge about new drugs, and failure to recognise prescribing, dispensing You are about to give the prescribed drugs to a patient in your care. b. If the resident/client is confused, gentle persuasion may help or wait a little while and try again. how to record and report mistakes, side effects and when a person refuses to take a medicine PO Box 2368 Report to supervisor or registered nurse who can follow-up with the resident's/client's doctor to see if the resident/client can be assessed for self-administration of medications. Be alert to side effects or illness that make them feel sick or uncomfortable. Other Tips: Be upbeat when approaching the individuals about taking their medication. A person with Alzheimer’s needs you to provide that for them. When the resident/client refuses to take their medication: Under no circumstances make the resident/client take their medication against their wishes. another resident/client finding and taking them. Documenting the resident's refusal to take any or all medications, the health care team's actions and any other outcomes are important. The vast majority of the time, it is illegal to make someone take medication that they have refused. It can be because the medicine is hard to swallow, tastes unpleasant or causes side effects such as nausea. The table that follows outlines the action to be taken for specific medication incidents. This action creates a unique si …. Until recently, my LO (cousin age 63) was cooperative and took her meds with no problem. The most prominent nursing response to medication refusal was counseling. Residents may refuse medication for a number of reasons, including religious beliefs, dietary restrictions, misunderstandings, cognitive impairment, desire to self-harm, or simple inconvenience. You need to report any medication incident to a supervisor. applesauce, and that will motivate the patient to take it. Put on disposable gloves and dispose of medication where possible. So let’s start with the right resident. c. Residents' beliefs may change over time, and the health care team needs to be prepared to revisit the issue as necessary. Observe the resident and report any effect which may result from refusal. You have been on your feet since you walked onto the ward at 7.30am, yet you are barely halfway through your shift. a unique situation for pharmacists and long-term facility staff, especially if patients have dementia. As a community pharmacist I have heard lots of stories of patients sharing their prescribed medicines with others whom they feel have similar symptoms to themselves so would benefit from the medication. Nearly all the nurse subjects believed that the medication refusal event negatively influenced nursing care, the patient/nurse interaction, and patient teaching. circle your initials, then explain the refusal, including your action taken, on the back of the MAR Your resident, Mr. Smith, has diabetes and requires insulin injections several times a day. But then, just as you thought you were almost there, a sickening feeling washes over you. The resident/client has a right to refuse medication. using the right equipment to give the medicine. Stacey explains the consequence of not taking the medication and becomes irritated. Complete a Medication Incident Form stating why the medication signing sheet is incorrect (e.g. 3 • NICE guidance states that the circumstances and reasons why a resident refuses a medicine Some of the reasons are: ... notified if the resident refuses medication. Complete a Medication Incident Form and document in the progress notes. If the medical team and the resident cannot resolve their disagreement, often an ethics Document in resident/client's progress notes and complete a Medication Incident Form. Residents have the legal right to refuse medications, and long-term care facilities need to employ a process to resolve disagreement between the health care team that recommends the medication Now comes the hard part. Contact the pharmacist to query the pack and if necessary, send the blister pack back to the pharmacist to repack. a. Someone might refuse … If there will be some delay, check with the pharmacist that it is safe for the resident/client to wait. The resident designee may be able to ... follow the recommendations for action on the resident’s Individualized Care Plan. There are almost 3000 aged-care facilities in Australia with approximately 200 000 residents. If the resident/client still refuses to take their medication when you return follow the procedure for refused medication. medication given to the wrong resident/client. Follow the actions to be taken in 'The resident/client refused to take their medication'. This includes: The resident/client refuses to take their medication. Forward incident form to supervisor. 8. Offer to bring the medications to the resident/client within the next 30 minutes. notified if the resident refuses medication. Occasionally, residents actively or passively refuse to take medications. Talk with your family member about why he or she doesn't like certain drugs or forgets to take them. 3. 728-736(9), Publisher: American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, DOI: https://doi.org/10.4140/TCP.n.2017.728, Keywords: When you notice the medication signing sheet has not been completed correctly: You find a loose tablet (eg in a resident's/client's room, on a tray), number of tablets does not match the label, the tablets are not packed in the correct time. there is a space on the medication signing sheet that does not have signature where there should be a signature). When it is medication time, be sure there is a calm environment in the house—i.e. ETHICS CONSULTATION; If the resident/client is unable to self-medicate and still wishes to have the medications left then the supervisor or registered nurse will follow-up with the resident/client and/or their representative. Authors: Haskins, Danielle R.; Wick, Jeannette Y. Residents may refuse medication for a number of reasons, including religious beliefs, dietary restrictions, misunderstandings, cognitive impairment, desire to self-harm, or simple inconvenience. She says she wants to … This action creates a unique si …. Ask the pharmacy if there is a substitute drug for the one the patient refused. A loved one can approach this situation with logic such as, “remember before the medication, you did such-and-such, whereas on the medication, you’re able to such-and-such...” ... take medication or obtain requested diagnostic studies and any other actions a patient fails to take that might contribute to an injury or delay in the resolution of a medical problem. A client must not be forced to take medication against his or her wishes.