Description
You are preparing to discharge a 43-year-old male patient who has received treatment for a fracture of the right tibia. You provide the patient with a prescription for a narcotic analgesic to be used as needed for pain, along with information about the medication. The patient states, “I don’t need the prescription. My cousin just had surgery and didn’t take all of his pain medicine. I can just use his. That will be cheaper for me, anyway, since I don’t have insurance.” (Learning Objectives 3, 4, and 5)
1. a. Discuss the legal and therapeutic implications related to the patient taking narcotic analgesics that have been prescribed for another person.
b. With these implications in mind, how should you respond to the patient?
2. How should you respond to the patient’s concern about the cost of his medication?
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This is the class mate answer, I need the 100 words reply: Thank you!Alexa RDiscuss the legal and therapeutic implications related to the patient taking narcotic analgesics that have been prescribed for another person.The legal implications of taking narcotic analgesics should be explained to the patient. There is a maximum amount of narcotic that can be administered, and once the patient has taken the number prescribed, the doctor will try to let the patient take over-the-counter medications. It is important for the doctor to advise the patient that the patient should try to slowly wean themselves off the narcotics, as they cannot be prescribed long-term. Narcotics can only be used for short periods of time because the patient can develop a dependency due to their highly addictive nature.Additionally, it’s crucial to discuss with the patient the possibility that their fracture will leave them with excruciating pain that won’t go away with over-the-counter analgesics. If they do not have insurance, there are assistance programs that the front office staff can assist the patient with or refer them to a social worker who can best help with their request. There are so many programs in place for patients who do not have insurance, and sometimes these are educational opportunities for the patient.With these implications in mind, how should you respond to the patient?The legal implications involve the patient having autonomy and gaining consent. The patient has the autonomy to decide whether they will take the prescribed medication. We as nurses cannot force the patient to decide; we can just inform them about the treatment the provider has in mind. The other implication is getting consent from the patient. The patient has to consent to taking the medication that is restricted. The other legal implication is that the patient cannot abuse the narcotic. There is a cap on how much can be prescribed, and the patient is not allowed to share the drug with others. The provider should also explain to the patient that prolonged use of narcotics can lead to health complications such as bowel obstruction and other co-dependencies (Steiner et al., 2018).How should you respond to the patient’s concern about the cost of his medication?Nurses play an important role in prescribing medication. We, as nurses, check for the rights of the patient (i.e., right drug, right amount, right route, right patient, and right time). If the patient has concerns about access to the medication, we have to try to troubleshoot and help the patient. If there is a discount card that is available, we should inform the patient of that resource. If there are samples in the office of the medication prescribed at that particular dosage, we can have a conversation with the physician about offering the sample. If there is a way for the patient to qualify for health care prescription benefits, we should refer them to the front desk staff. The nurse plays an important role in trying to help the patient get access to the resources or pointing them in the right direction. If the patient has any hesitations over the cost, as nurses, we have a duty to report that to the physician as well.ReferencesSteiner, S. R. H., Cancienne, J. M., & Werner, B. C. (2018). Narcotics and knee arthroscopy: Trends in use and factors associated with prolonged use and postoperative complications. Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic & Related Surgery, 34(6), 1931-1939. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29685836/Links to an external site.
