A nurse carefully explained that the medication had to be taken three

A nurse carefully explained that the medication had to be taken three times a day, with each meal. The patient came to the clinic with symptoms of medication overdose. How should the nurse respond?

a. “Can you explain what you believe happened to make you so ill now?”
b. “Can you tell me when in the day you and your family eat?”
c. “Please review with me when I taught you to take your medication.”
d. “Why did you take more medication than we suggested?”

ESSAYBID ANSWER

ANS: B
It is not helpful to confront the patient or accuse someone of noncompliance. A review of the prescription may have been helpful, but because the patient had an overdose, one might assume the medication is being taken more than three times a day. The nurse has engaged in cultural imposition—that is, assuming the patient’s beliefs, values, and patterns of behavior are identical to hers. Not everyone eats exactly three times a day. The family may eat more or less than three times a day.