Illinois Nursing Home Administrators (NHA) Practice Exam

What should be done upon the order of a resident's licensed prescriber?

1. Return all discontinued medications to the dispensing pharmacy.

2. Retain discontinued medications for possible administration to other residents.

3. Send the resident's medication to the receiving facility when a resident is discharged.

4. Send a resident's medication to the hospital during temporary transfers.

The correct answer is: Send a resident's medication to the hospital during temporary transfers.

The appropriate action to take upon the order of a resident's licensed prescriber is to send a resident's medication to the hospital during temporary transfers. This is crucial for ensuring continuity of care. When a resident is temporarily transferred to a hospital, it is essential that they have access to their prescribed medications to maintain their treatment plan and prevent potential health complications. Medications that the resident has been taking should be provided to the hospital staff, as they will continue to manage the resident’s care while they are away from the nursing home. The physician in the hospital may need to refer to these medications to make informed clinical decisions regarding ongoing treatment or modifications. Other choices present different scenarios that do not accurately meet the needs of the resident or do not align with best practices in medication management. For instance, returning discontinued medications to the pharmacy is a policy decision that would typically occur at discharge and not strictly based on a prescriber’s order. Retaining discontinued medications for other residents raises concerns regarding safety and legality, as medications should not be shared between residents. Sending medications to a receiving facility is standard for discharges but does not apply in the context of temporary transfers, making it less relevant in this situation.