What's that for? Really?!?!
 

Why, Why, Why do you take a medication and you don't know what it's for? Everyday I see at least one patient that doesn't know their medication list. I try to review what they are taking and it goes something like this:

Me: Are you still taking Losartan?
Patient: I'm not sure, what's that for?
Me: Blood pressure
Patient: Oh yea, I take that
Me: Are you still taking Simvastatin?
Patient?:Umm, what's that one for?
Me: Cholesterol
Patient: Ok, yes I take that
Me: Are you still taking Omeprazole?
Patient: What's another name for that?
Me: {thinks} please just stab me in the eye.

FOLKS, if you are not sure of the drugs you are putting in your body everyday as least carry a list!

I am taking the prescriptions given to me by your office. You have the list. You have the chart. Quit acting so superior. Work with me, not against me.

Many times the names on the medications are such long complicated names. When a doctor prescribes a normal brand name which you recognize and know what it is for but then when you get to the pharmacy they fill it with a generic who would recognize some of those names? Plus the person is ill.

If you only go to one doctor that would be fine. However, most go to more than one. Also, don't you want to be active if your own healthcare? You don't want to know what the doctor is giving you and why? I agree with your quote "work with me, not against me" Generally, a patient has not more than 10 medications. There are a million out there though. I am not trying to work against you.

A little too too, kiddo. Patience and kindness and acceptance goes a long way. They aren't your children, they are your patients.

I carry a typed list in my wallet with my prescriptions with the daily dosage, the dates of my last tetnus shot, flu shot, pencillian shot, and any allergy I have to a prescription drug.

If I go to a new doctor I hand them my list. They want to know my meds when I have a mammogram, I hand them my list. They love it because they can read it!

I put the list behind my driver's license in my wallet. I fold it so it sticks up a little higher than the license. Hopefully, if I'm ever in a medical emergency where an EMT (or any other emergency team) is involved they will see my med list when they look for my driverr's license.

I've also made medical lists for the three seniors (ages 85, 87 and 91) that I hlelp. Their list also includes my name and phone numbers to call in case of an emergency.

If you have a cell phone, put all your medical information on it. The iPhone has a special app that can be accessed by emergency personnel without giving them access to all the private information on your phone. The android phones have a similar app that you must download. It's called ICE(in case of emergency). I recommend this to all my clients.

Maybe a woodshed would work. In my world we are there to help the patient, not make them feel incompetent. You must have had a really bad day.

For me the problem is moot since I take no meds except when I might need an antibiotic once every two or three years. However, if I did require meds I would certainly want to remember what they were, the dosages, how often, and whether they might dangerously interact with other meds. After all, my life might very well depend on such knowledge.

from another nurse
 

You are assuming this nurse works in a doctor's office. This nurse most likely is a Home Health Care RN, as I am.... And you have no idea the patients we see on a regular basis that have no idea what they are taking or why. And certainly have NO idea the potential side effects. It would behoove everyone out there to ask your doctor, or simply keep the information provided by your pharmacy, and READ this information. It just may save your life.
It is our job to ask these questions and if you don't know the answer, we will teach you.

I use a tiny thumb drive on my keys When we get a new med an outline of what it is for and side effects are usually in the package when I get it filled usually attached to the receipt. I plug in the thumb to my computer and update the meds list with the info. copies of doctors reports on recent scans and tests are also loaded. If I am unable to respond then emts or doctors have a full list of all relevant info. This was suggested by a doctor when we were going to be traveling and we have done it ever since.

Please, before everyone jumps down the OPs throat, recognize how difficult these nurses' jobs are , especially a home care nurse. They are out there, often on their own, on the front line, burdened by a ton of paperwork and regulation, trying to help the patient as best they can. They don't have the authority to change anything, and often are not treated with the respect they deserve by either the patient, their family or even the physician that they are helping out. I agree that the tone of the OP sounds a bit patronizing, but that goes to choice of words and not intent; she makes some very valid points, as does the home care nurse that responded.
To the OP: I understand your frustration, but certainly the exchange you posted is nowhere near the worst you've encountered. This patient at least knew what they were taking the meds for. Remember, their list from their doctor might have read Cozaar, Zocor and Prilosec--then the pharmacist hands them losartan, simvastatin and omeprazole---it's not reasonable to expect the average patient to sort that out. How many times have you asked about meds only to be told "I take a blue pill, a pink pill and a white pill". How many times have you had to deal with a family member with a "chip" on their shoulder? The example you gave is small potatoes (Dan Quayle spelling). But I read your post as showing dedication more than anything negative
To patients: Believe it or not, what appears to be the simple bookkeeping of maintaining a medication list is one of the hardest things we do. Besides patient confusion with brand vs generic names, many are seeing several specialists who change meds without letting the primary care physician know, or they send a 5 page note with the change buried somewhere in the middle. Even with EMRs, printed lists, and asking patients to bring all their pill bottles to their visit, the accuracy of the list is often compromised. Best solution we have found so far is to have the patient ask the specialist to write the medication changes on their list, and then call our office, THAT DAY, and let us know the change. Not perfect, but helpful. Some day, 10-15 years from now, all EMRs will be linked by an interface that will auto-update med lists regardless of prescriber. I'm sure even that system will not be perfect.
To pharmacists: Several pharmacies in our area are now putting the trade name on the label such as this:
Losartan 50 mg
Take one by mouth each morning
GENERIC FOR COZAAR
I would encourage you to put pressure on your professional society and your employers to universally adopt such a label, it would be a big help.

How about people showing a little interest in their health, or at least what they stick in their mouth. This is just another example of people being too lazy, and/or irresponsible, that they don't even take the effort to understand the cocktail of drugs they are ingesting on a daily basis, but rather rely on their multitude of doctors prescribing numerous drugs and pharmacists accurately filling prescriptions. Most people couldn't even tell you what there blood pressure measurement was at the doctor's visit. Or their glucose or cholesterol numbers. They just respond by saying something like "I don't know, but the doctor didn't say anything was abnormal." God forbid they would ever exercise, eat better and lose weight too control their type 2 diabetes or their cholesterol levels.

Not everyone easily understands their medications. Some of my smart in other way friends do not.


I would rephrase your post. The" REALLY" shows your exasperation. That is a no no like RUNNING in a hospital.


Here is how I would say it. (and I am not a nurse) And I do respect and honor all nurses.


As a nurse many times I am faced with patients who are not clear as to what medications they take. This can be dangerous for them at the very least. I am here to ask all of you to take the time today to write down each and all of the medications that you take , including the dosage and put it in your purse or wallet or on your smart phone

. It could save your life.

Never hesitate to ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist what a medication is for, and what the side effects are and if it reacts with other medications you take or with food. (sometimes something as simple as grapefruit juice can react adversely with some medications)

I am frequently worried about patients who don't have a clear idea what they are taking and why. You can help the medical professionals who are trying to help you if you carry an updated list with you at all times.

Miss manners....

So agree

I think the OP was a little dramatic and the tone didn't seem very nice for a nurse. Also the "Stab me in the eye" was definitely not nice !!

Much nicer tone; however, probably would not have received as much attention as the OP's post which hopefully opened someone's eyes.

Call to action
 

All this discussion raises some very valid points on all sides. However you choose to do it, we should all carry a list of our meds, strength and dosage.

So here's a call to action.
- Stop what you are doing right now and go get all your meds and make that list. If you have a list, check it against the bottles to make sure it is updated. Stick it in your wallet.
- If you have any questions about what you find, call your doctor's office and ask them to clarify.
- Set aside all expired meds or those you are no longer taking. Put them in a bag for disposal the next time there is a old medication disposal event. (Don't dump them in the toilet.)

There. It's still morning and you're done something to make your life and your attending's life so much easier. Have a great day!

what I used to like even more is when I'd be talking to a male veteran about his meds and asked a question and he'd say "ask her" indicating his wife...."she handles that". I used to think they should hope they'd never get on their wives bad side if they took whatever she handed them.

btw, I'm sure the OP doesn't talk to the patients that way...he/she is frustrated and venting and just saying what she'd like to say.

I'm sure these people who say learning their meds names and uses are too complicated can explain something they find interesting (NFL team stats, hp of cars, etc.) easy enough to remember.

I will tell you that you may think your doctor is on top of things, but you can't trust that. you have to be aware and be able to question. I've had patients taking two kinds of meds that do the same thing because they didn't understand they were supposed to discontinue one. Most people are in such a hurry they decline pharmacy counseling. They should utilize it.

I agree. You have made some very good points.

Pharmacies usually provide a handy print-out of drugs with their proper name and dosage. It's easy-peasy to carry it in your wallet.
I agree with Sable, it's a very good idea to include dates of shots and any allergies.

Lots of good responses on here with valuable information and ideas. Just one more suggestion - when getting a refill of a medication, never hesitate to call the pharmacy if the pill looks different in any way. Most times it is just a different generic that was dispensed and the pharmacy staff failed to mention it, but you never know. I can't tell you how many times patients have called me and apologized profusely for bothering me to ask that question. My response is to say, no apology needed as it is NEVER a bother and to ALWAYS feel free to call before putting any medicine in your mouth if you are unsure.

A Case In Point....
 

First, let me applaud "inthemindofanurse" for starting a very informative thread.
Second: to "golfingeagles", thank you for understanding and defending home health care nurses. They spend hours and hours a day, driving and doing paperwork for which they are not compensated. And not always welcomed or respected by the patients. Our reward is seeing our patients recover and get on with their life (hopefully)
Third: to "Bonny", yes she was being dramatic, sometimes we find that is the only way to get the point across and in this case it worked. I think it opened many eyes to what is a very real problem. Just lookat the responses it generated.
Fourth: to "gomoho", Exactly!
Fifth: to "Bonnevie", yes, it is a daily encounter with our male patients: "ask the wife, she takes care of that" What happens if "wife" ends up in hospital, how do you manage then? And the wife taking care of the medications does not mean that she understands either.
A CASE IN POINT: I signed up a male patient, wife managing meds. I reviewed the meds and wrote the medication profile. Pt was being admitted for Physical Therapy. He was falling frequently, experiencing low back pain and pain/weakness in both legs, reaching a point where he could barely ambulate room to room. In going over his medications, I found he was taking Pravachol, Atorvastatin (generic), and Simvastatin (generic). These medications were ordered by a very popular Primary Care doc here in the area. And, as an RN, I do understand that it may take more than one drug of a classification to control ones cholesterol but this just did not seem right to me. I notified the physician (of the symptoms & meds), he stopped two of these drugs and the patient recovered in a very short time. Is now able to walk, ride his bicycle and has not fallen since that time.
I do not fully understand how this happens, starting with the doctor's office and progressing through the pharmacy. There was a time when a pharmacist would question a doctors prescription, if the medications are all being filled thru the same pharmacy, but that does not always happen anymore. Some patients shop around for the cheapest prices (understandably) so each pharmacist is not aware of other filled prescriptions.
I also do not know what happens to patients who are not referred to home health agencies or have very astute family members watching over them. They have no one watching over them or educating them.
Please forgive me for rambling, but I feel "inthemindofanurse" has opened some eyes by starting this thread and may alert patients that just because their "physician says so" is not always in their best interest. In this day of modern medicine you have to be very alert and responsible for what is being ordered for you. You have to take control!

You are right and this has been a good thread.

and I believe inthemindofanurse is probably a very dedicated individual. You don't get that upset unless you really care about patients and are concerned about the very real dangers they face if they don't educate themselves. As I said, I'm sure the person deals with patients very well....but is just frustrated and venting. As a pharmacist, if we didn't vent once in awhile, we'd go nuts. Believe me, there are those that don't get upset....they don't care about possible bad outcomes...it's just a job and they aren't going to to the extra mile. But the ones who really care are in the profession because they want to help people. We had patients who used to get mad because at our VA if they got a new prescription they had to be counseled and instead of appreciating it, they'd complain. We caught a lot of problems.

Have to disagree with this one. Yes, the patients you describe do exist, but they are a small minority. Most people take an interest in their own health. They may not know their exact glucose reading, but if it is between 60 and 100, who cares? I generally just tell patients it's normal and only give a number if they ask. Most do not care if it is 76 or 78. Cholesterol is much more complicated since "normal" depends on the patient's condition---a general rule is simply the lower the better, within reason. Now, where you hit the nail on the head is in the last sentence. Many people will take an interest, ask questions, but when it comes to actually making lifestyle changes---lose weight, eat healthy. quit smoking, limit alcohol, well.....let's just many promise the moon and deliver squat. At times it's like talking to a brick wall----it's the ones that do follow instructions and get healthier that we continue on for. (forgive the dangling participle, kind of a bad day)

I think sometimes a person in a day to day stressful job just needs to vent somehow, in some way. Most people who are older grew up trusting their doctor and take whatever is prescribed regardless of the name of it. Many us have the where with all to know what we are taking and why. Many of us dont. Maybe the next rant from someone could be about doctors over medicating patients, and why they do it.

I would make a "friendly" suggestion that someone doesn't start such a "rant". I'll be watching for it, and it would be like one of the political extremists debating Bill O'Reilly---it won't be pretty:a20:

Thank God someone still has them...