A nurse is preparing a patient for discharge. The patient will be going home with a new prescription for an oral anticoagulant and has several existing medications. Which action is the most critical for medication safety at discharge?
A
Providing written instructions for each new medication.
B
Reconciling the patient's home medications with new prescriptions.
C
Educating the patient about potential side effects of the anticoagulant.
D
Arranging for a follow-up appointment with the prescribing physician.
✓ Correct Answer: Option B
Medication reconciliation at discharge prevents errors by comparing all current and newly prescribed medications against medications the patient was taking at home. This identifies discrepancies like duplications or omissions, reducing adverse drug events.
💡 Why is B) the correct answer?
The correct answer to the question "A nurse is preparing a patient for discharge. The patient will be going home with a new prescription for an oral anticoagulant and has several existing medications. Which action is the most critical for medication safety at discharge?" is Option B: Reconciling the patient's home medications with new prescriptions..
The other options — A) Providing written instructions for each new medication., C) Educating the patient about potential side effects of the anticoagulant., D) Arranging for a follow-up appointment with the prescribing physician. — are incorrect for this NCLEX-RN Exam Prep question. As explained above: Medication reconciliation at discharge prevents errors by comparing all current and newly prescribed medications against medications the patient was taking at home. This identifies discrepancies like…
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