You are discharging a patient and have a list of duties to perform to complete this discharge. Which of the following responsibilities is most important?
- A. Notifying the laboratory personnel that the test scheduled for today has been canceled
- B. Assisting the patient to dress in his or her own clothes
- C. Redistributing the patient workload for the staff now that a patient is to be discharged
- D. Reconciling the patient's medications
- E. Noting the health-care provider's order to discharge the patient
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Medication reconciliation ensures patient safety by verifying medications, making it the most critical task.
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The patient must be taught about new medications that are to be taken on discharge from the facility. Which of the following statements is(are) accurate about this patient teaching?
- A. Teaching should include as few details as possible to make it easier to remember.
- B. It is not necessary to write down the medication instructions as long as the patient understands what you have told him or her.
- C. The best time to teach the patient about new medications is just before he or she leaves the facility so that the information will still be fresh in his or her mind on arrival at home.
- D. You should ask for clarification that the patient understands the instructions.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Asking for clarification ensures understanding. Detailed teaching, written instructions, and earlier education (not just before discharge) are best practices.
What subjects should be included in discharge teaching?
- A. When to return to the health-care provider's office for follow-up
- B. List of medications, how to take them, and what side effects to watch for
- C. Required modifications or restrictions of diet or activity level
- D. Signs and symptoms of worsening condition that warrant health-care provider notification
- E. Care or treatment that the patient is to continue at home
Correct Answer: A,B,C,D,E
Rationale: All listed subjects are essential for discharge teaching to ensure patient safety and continuity of care.
Objective components of an initial assessment database would include some, but not all, of the following. Which components would not be considered objective?
- A. Blood pressure, temperature, pulse, respirations, and oxygen saturation level
- B. Pain level, location, and characteristics
- C. Level of consciousness
- D. Auscultation of heart, breath, and bowel sounds
- E. Peripheral pulses and capillary refill
- F. Range of motion and strength of all extremities
- G. Weight and height
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Pain is subjective as it relies on patient self-reporting. All other options are measurable and observable, making them objective.
Which of the following should be included in your last nurse's notes entry at discharge?
- A. The patient's condition
- B. Vital signs
- C. The time the patient actually leaves
- D. The method of transportation
- E. Notification of housekeeping
Correct Answer: A,B,C,D
Rationale: The final note should document the patient's condition, vital signs, departure time, and transportation method. Notifying housekeeping is not included in nurse's notes.
Which of the following is(are) not included as part of the admission process?
- A. Eating the diet tray ordered by the health-care provider
- B. Obtaining consent to treat
- C. Application of identification bands
- D. Orienting patient and family to the environment
- E. Transporting the patient to physical therapy
Correct Answer: A,E
Rationale: Eating a diet tray and physical therapy transport are not part of admission. Consent, ID bands, and orientation are standard admission tasks.
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