Nursing Component Task
Nursing procedures & clinical learning

Community Mental Health Nursing (RCMN)

EDUCATING A CLIENT ON MEDICATION AT HOME

This is a process where the RCPN teaches and gives information on the client's medication. This is to enlighten the client on the therapeutic and adverse effects of medications.

Purpose

  • Ensure the client understand the therapeutic and adverse effect of the medication in order to make an informed decision about the treatment
  • Prevent abuse/addiction
  • Enhance compliance to treatment regimen
  • Prevent overdose and under dose of medication

Indications

  • Teaching a client at home about his or her medication.
  • Enlightening the client on the therapeutic and adverse effects of medications.
  • Preventing abuse or addiction, enhancing compliance and preventing overdose or underdose.

Equipment

  • A Well-Equipped home visit bag (refer to content)
  • Community Map and or GhanaPost Global Positions System (GPS)
  • Manual/electronic area register/ records of the group
  • Means of Transportation
  • Teaching learning materials e.g. diagrams, flyers, projectors, videos etc.

Preparation

  • Read the community map or GPS and identify the home of the client.
  • Carry a well-equipped home visit bag and gather teaching and learning materials.

Procedure steps

  • Read map of the community or use GhanaPost Global Positions System (GPS) address to identify the location of the client's home
  • Announce your presence, enter on response, greet and establish rapport (refer to procedure) with client, family and significant others
  • Ensure privacy and confidentiality by asking the client to identify a suitable place for the interaction
  • Ask client to make himself comfortable in a desired by position
  • Explain the purpose and importance of the education
  • Find out client's level of awareness on medication in a language that client understands and educate him base on the awareness
  • Explain to client the rational for treatment and possible outcome
  • Show type of medication(s) and explain method of administration to client
  • Educate client on quantity of medication to take at a time
  • Educate client on the therapeutic, adverse and side effects of the medication(s)
  • Educate client to report to the hospital when adverse effect is noticed
  • Demonstrate to client how to store medication at home safely
  • Educate client on the importance of laboratory follow-ups if prescribed
  • Explain the role of care giver/family members in the administration of medication at home
  • Allow client to ask questions and answer them professionally
  • Educate and encourage client and or significant others to read attached medication information leaflet when available
  • Provide client with simple pamphlets or credible website on the medication for further information if available
  • Ask for feedback to ascertain client's understanding
  • Summarize the education to the client and emphasize on the importance of follow-ups
  • Document procedure in the report book
  • Express appreciation for client's cooperation and depart

Precautions

  • Ensure privacy and confidentiality by asking the client to identify a suitable place for the interaction.
  • Find out the client's level of awareness on medication in a language the client understands.
  • Educate the client to report to the hospital when an adverse effect is noticed.
  • Document the procedure in the report book after the education.

Aftercare

  • Summarise the education to the client and emphasise the importance of follow-ups.
  • Express appreciation for the client's cooperation and depart.

Nursing considerations

  • Explain the rationale for treatment and the possible outcome.
  • Educate the client on the importance of laboratory follow-ups if prescribed.
  • Ask for feedback to ascertain the client's understanding and provide leaflets or credible websites when available.

Patient education

  • Show the type of medication and explain the method of administration, quantity and timing to the client.
  • Educate the client on the therapeutic, adverse and side effects of the medications.
  • Demonstrate how to store medication at home safely and explain the role of caregivers in administration.

Documentation

  • Document the procedure in the report book.

References and further reading

Educational resource only. Follow current Nursing and Midwifery Council guidance, local institutional protocols, scope of practice, and clinical supervision.

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