Medication Management and Reconciliation Flashcards
7 cards from real Ambulatory Care Test practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Medication Management and Reconciliation flashcards as text
What is the primary goal of medication reconciliation in the ambulatory care setting?
Answer: To identify and resolve discrepancies in a patient's medication list across care transitions
Medication reconciliation aims to create an accurate, complete medication list and resolve any discrepancies that occur when patients move between care settings.
According to The Joint Commission, medication reconciliation MUST occur at which point in patient care?
Answer: At care transitions, including admission, transfer, and discharge
The Joint Commission's National Patient Safety Goals require medication reconciliation at all care transitions—admission, transfer, and discharge—to prevent errors.
Which of the following is the BEST source for obtaining an accurate medication history during reconciliation?
Answer: The pharmacy dispensing records combined with direct patient interview
Pharmacy dispensing records combined with a direct patient interview provide the most accurate picture of actual medication use, including OTC drugs and supplements.
Polypharmacy in the ambulatory care setting is most commonly defined as a patient taking how many or more concurrent medications?
Answer: Five or more
Polypharmacy is most widely defined as the concurrent use of five or more medications, which significantly increases the risk of adverse drug interactions and events.
A patient taking warfarin asks if it is safe to take ibuprofen for back pain. What is the ambulatory care nurse's best response?
Answer: Ibuprofen can increase bleeding risk when taken with warfarin and should be avoided
NSAIDs like ibuprofen inhibit platelet aggregation and can displace warfarin from protein-binding sites, significantly increasing bleeding risk.
Which abbreviation represents the comprehensive medication history obtained directly from the patient upon care contact?
Answer: BPMH
BPMH stands for Best Possible Medication History, a systematic process of collecting the most accurate medication list directly from the patient, often at care entry.
When conducting medication reconciliation, the nurse notes the patient is taking St. John's Wort along with sertraline. What is the primary concern?
Answer: Increased risk of serotonin syndrome
St. John's Wort has serotonergic properties, and combining it with an SSRI like sertraline can precipitate serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition.