Patient Care & Communication Skills Flashcards

A resident refuses to take their prescribed medication. What is the medication aide's first action?

Answer: Document the refusal and notify the nurse immediately

Medication refusal must be documented and reported to the supervising nurse so appropriate follow-up can be arranged.

When communicating with a resident who has hearing loss, the medication aide should:

Answer: Face the resident, speak slowly, and use a normal tone

Facing the resident and speaking slowly allows them to use visual cues and lip-reading to aid comprehension.

A resident reports chest pain after receiving medication. The aide should:

Answer: Notify the nurse immediately and stay with the resident

Chest pain is a potential emergency requiring immediate nurse notification and close monitoring of the resident.

Which behavior best demonstrates person-centered care when administering medications?

Answer: Addressing the resident by their preferred name and explaining each medication

Person-centered care respects individual preferences and ensures residents understand and consent to their care.

A resident's family member demands to know what medications their loved one is taking. The aide should:

Answer: Tell the family to ask the nurse or charge nurse for that information

Medication information is confidential; only authorized personnel, following HIPAA guidelines, may release it to family members.

Which technique helps ensure a resident has actually swallowed an oral medication?

Answer: Asking the resident to open their mouth after swallowing

Checking the mouth after administration (called 'mouth check') confirms the medication was swallowed and not cheeked.

A resident with dementia becomes agitated during medication administration. The best approach is to:

Answer: Speak calmly, use simple words, and allow the resident time to settle

A calm, gentle approach with simple communication reduces agitation and improves cooperation in residents with dementia.