Medication question (not a hw question)?

Sun0408, ASN, RN · Nov 10, 2012

It really varies so much. The older population can come in with 15 home meds taken daily or several times a day. Some are stopped on admission, adjusted or continued. Hospital meds will depend on need at DC. If they were on ABX while in the hospital, they might still be on them when they go home.

allnurses Guide · Nov 10, 2012

It will vary based on your age and population. My primary care patients average 9 meds, which is why polypharmacy is such a big issue in older patients.

Most if the meds in-patient will be continued save for the GI regimen most admission orders include.

PedRN86 · Nov 10, 2012

I can't honestly answer with any absolute confidence, but I'd guess usually patients go home with more meds. Some might be temporary (antibiotics, analgesics), some might be long term (cardiac meds, anti-epileptics).

My boyfriend is a psych nurse and sometimes patients leave with less meds. They may have come in on 4 and after their stay their whole med regime is revised and they leave on 3, perhaps. It really depends on what area you're working in, diagnosis of patient (plus any comorbidities!), what they had done in hospital, etc.

turnforthenurse, MSN, NP · Nov 11, 2012

It really depends but oftentimes patients will go home on more meds. Polypharmacy is such a problem, especially in the older adult population.

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · Nov 12, 2012

It's really impossible to answer that question. It will vary depending on each patient. The best thing you can do is look at each medication and ask yourself "why is my patient taking this medication?" If it's for an acute or short-term issue (the reason why they are in the hospital: an infection, surgery, pain, etc) they probably won't go home on that medication. If it's for a chronic issue (a long term condition or one they had before they came into the hospital: hypertension, diabetes, COPD, CHF, etc.) they will likely continue the medication at home.

If they come in on a medication, they will likely go home on that medication, with a few exceptions. They might also complete a course of antibiotics at home, go home on pain medication or a new cardiac medication, etc.

When the patient is admitted, the admitting nurse should complete something called a "medication reconciliation." This is a list of all the medications that the patient was taking prior to admission. It should be in the patient's chart. You can probably find it under the admission notes.