participated in discharge teaching for my assigned patients, a total of three times. The
discharge teaching consisted of being sent home with leg bags, dalteparin injections, daily tasks
and going over their prescriptions. During that process, I have observed the nurses
going over the medications prescribed after discharge from the hospital. I am now
aware that there are many patients who will be prescribed medication upon discharge,
which they are taking while in the hospital, as well as new medication. While assisting in the prescription discharge teaching, I have observed
two patients expressing confusion over the new medications, as to why they will be taking them,
and …show more content…
I have concerns that there should be more time allotted for teaching patients’ about their
new medications, and without this, there is the possibility of “adverse drug events (ADEs), defined
as injuries occurring as a result of medication use” (Bayoumi, Dolovich, Hutchison, Holbrook,
2014, p. 219).
Episodic Health Challenge The episodic health challenge, which poses a concern, is the effect of ADEs such as
“gastrointestinal events (e.g., diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain) were the most common type of preventable ADEs (Table 3); other common preventable ADEs were cardiovascular and renal- or electrolyte-related events (hyperkalemia, hypokalemia, renal insufficiency). Cardio- vascular medications, diuretics, opioids, and anticoagulants or antiplatelets were most commonly involved in preventable events” due to lack of time and patient teaching (Kanaan et al, 2014, p. 1896).
The Problem
As stated by Flora, Parsons, & Slattum (2011), it would be beneficial for patients who are being transitioned from the hospital to another location, such as home or care facility, to have a transition coach, such as an advanced nurse, to educate the patients. He or she would provide