Questions: QUESTION 2 The home health nurse is visiting a client for the first time. While assessing the client's medication history, it is noted that there are 19 prescription and several over-the-counter medications that the client has been taking. Which intervention should the nurse take first? Check for medication interactions Determine whether there are medication duplications Determine whether a family member supervises medication administration Call the prescribing primary health care provider (PHCP) and report polypharmacy

The answer is A: Check for medication interactions.

Explanation for each option:

A. Check for medication interactions - This is the correct first intervention. When a client is taking a large number of medications, there is a significant risk of drug interactions, which can lead to adverse effects or reduced efficacy of the medications. Identifying potential interactions is crucial to ensure the client's safety and to prevent any harmful effects.

B. Determine whether there are medication duplications - While this is an important step, it is not the first priority. After checking for interactions, the nurse should assess for any duplications, as taking multiple medications with the same active ingredient can lead to overdose or increased side effects.

C. Determine whether a family member supervises medication administration - This is also an important consideration, especially if the client has cognitive impairments or difficulties managing their medications. However, it is not the immediate priority when first assessing the medication list.

D. Call the prescribing primary health care provider (PHCP) and report polypharmacy - While it is important to communicate with the PHCP about the client's medication regimen, especially if there are concerns about polypharmacy, this should be done after assessing for interactions and duplications. The nurse needs to gather all relevant information before contacting the PHCP to provide a comprehensive report.