Chapter 1

Question 1

The three main effects of medication:

Answer 1

-Desired effects
-Negative effects
-No apparent effects

Question 2

What are desired effects?

Answer 2

The reason why the drug was prescribed

Question 3

What are negative effects?

Answer 3

Undesirable or unwanted effects (adverse side-effects)

Question 4

What does it mean when it says there are no apparent effects?

Answer 4

No desired nor negative effects were observed

Question 5

Sign

Answer 5

The changes that you see in an individual’s appearance, behavior, and bodily functions. They are seen, heard, felt, and/or smelled, or can be measured using a thermometer, scale, or something of that sort, or by conducting lab work.

Question 6

Symptoms

Answer 6

Changes that you cannot see but are experienced and/or reported by the individual.

Question 7

Examples of signs

Answer 7

-Seeing or hearing an individual crying or moaning
-Feeling an individual’s skin as warm or cold
-Seeing that an individual has vomited or has diarrhea
-Hearing an individual slurring his speech

Question 8

Examples of symptoms

Answer 8

-Pain
-Itching
-Dizziness
-Feeling upset or worried
-Weakness
-Nausea
Loss of appetite

Question 9

What is the difference between a sign and a symptom?

Answer 9

A sign is something that can be observed or measured while a symptom is something that is relayed by the patient

Question 10

Examples of changes in physical condition

Answer 10

-change in body weight
-urinary patterns change to frequency or incontinence
-constipation or occurrence of diarrhea
-loss of appetite/changes in eating pattern
-changes in walking or balance
-change in ability to do functions such as dress or groom

Question 11

Examples of changes in behavior

Answer 11

-mental or emotional changes
-change in sleep patterns
-change in levels of activity
-changes in communication
-changes in socialization with others
-drowsiness
-increased irritability
-increased pacing
-increased or decreased resistance to care

Question 12

The three categories of changes that must be reported

Answer 12

1. Emergency Medical Conditions
2. Non-Emergency Medical Conditions
3. Other Physical or Behavioral Changes

Question 13

Examples of emergency medical conditions

Answer 13

1. Bleeding which you cannot control
2. Accidents involving severe injury (including broken bones)
3. Not breathing (failure of respiratory system
4. No heartbeat or pulse (failure of respiratory system)
5. Loss of consciousness (not related to seizure activity)
6. Lengthy seizure activity
7. Behavior which is a danger to self or others and is not controllable
8. Sudden numbness or slurring of speech
9. Sudden onset, severe headache
10. Chest pain
11. Respiratory distress

Question 14

When to report an emergency medical condition, who to report to, how to report, and who is responsible for reporting this information to the physician

Answer 14

When to report: IMMEDIATELY
Whom to report to: Emergency services
How to report: After the emergency is under control, write an independent and send to the supervisor
Who is responsible for reporting to the physician: The supervisor (the registered nurse will tell the family)

Question 15

What is are non-emergency medical conditions?

Answer 15

Physical and behavioral changes that must be reported to your designated supervisor but are not an immediate threat to the life or safety of the individual.

Note: It is the responsibility of the supervisor to call the healthcare professional.

Another Note: If you are not sure whether to report a medical condition-report it

Question 16

When it comes to other physical and behavioral changes: what do you report, when do you report, to whom do you report, and how do you report?

Answer 16

What: Any change could be important and therefore should be documented

When: As soon as they are observed

Whom: Supervisor

How: Verbally report to supervisor and follow up with a written description of the changes and time that they were observed on agency forms

Question 17

Observation/Reporting Sequence

Question 18

What should the person accompanying the patient to the physician’s office know:

Answer 18

1. Why the individual is visiting the physician
2. What information to take to the physician
3. What information to obtain from the physician
4. What to do with the information obtained

Question 19

Information that the physician will need in order to prescribe the best medication (should be found in the individual’s health record)

Answer 19

1. History of allergies to medication and/or food
2. List of all current medications and treatments being administered and their purpose (this includes dietary supplements, OTC, and herbal medications)
3. Current dietary information (special diets should be noted)
4. Written observations of recent changes in physical signs or symptoms or changes in behavior
5. Health care insurance cards and information
6. Any previous tests or consultations

Question 20

What is your responsibility when assisting individuals in performing tasks?

Answer 20

To help assist them in performing the tasks as independently as possible

In all cases the individuals should be encouraged to participate in the decision making as much as possible during the visiti

Question 21

What is a Physician’s Medication Order? Form?

Answer 21

A form that is more detailed than a prescription; lists each medication and treatment and records all discontinuations of any medication or treatment.

Question 22

What information does the PMOF record?

Answer 22

1. Name of the medication
2. Dosages
3. The frequency to be given
4. Method to give the medication
5. Purpose of the medication/treatment
6. Stop date (often next scheduled appointment)
7. Reporting guidelines (when to report back to physician)
8. Prescriber’s name, address, and phone number (printed with a signature)

note: If a family member accompanies the individual for a visit to the physician, remind them to bring this form back to you so you will be able to include any changes from the visit in the medication chart