JBL EMT Practice Exam

When caring for a patient who takes numerous medications, it is best to:

1. document the medications on your patient care report, but leave them at home so they do not get misplaced

2. let the hospital staff retrieve the patient's medical records, which should show a list of his or her current medications

3. send the patient's medications to the hospital with a family member or other person who will safeguard them

4. take all of the patient's medications with you to the hospital and document them on your patient care report

The correct answer is: document the medications on your patient care report, but leave them at home so they do not get misplaced

When caring for a patient who takes numerous medications, it is best to document the medications on your patient care report but leave them at home so they do not get misplaced. This is the correct approach because it ensures that the information about the patient's medications is accurately recorded and available for reference during the patient's care without risking misplacement or loss of the medications. It is essential to have this information documented for healthcare providers at the hospital, but physically taking the medications with you can lead to potential problems such as loss, theft, or confusion about which medications the patient needs to take. Therefore, leaving the medications at home and documenting them on the patient care report is the most appropriate and safe choice in this scenario. Option B is incorrect because relying solely on the hospital staff to retrieve the patient's medical records may not provide an up-to-date or comprehensive list of the patient's current medications. Option C is incorrect as sending the patient's medications to the hospital with a family member or other person can pose risks related to security, storage, or potential issues with administering the medications if needed. Option D is incorrect as taking all of the patient's medications with you to the hospital can lead to logistical challenges and potential risks associated with the handling and administration of the medications.