What should you do if a resident experiences an adverse effect from a medication?

When a resident experiences an adverse effect from a medication, it is crucial to report the incident immediately to the nurse or physician. This step is important for several reasons. Firstly, healthcare professionals need to assess the severity of the reaction, as some adverse effects can potentially escalate and require immediate medical intervention. Prompt reporting ensures that the healthcare team can take appropriate action, which may include adjusting the medication, providing symptomatic treatment, or conducting further assessments to safeguard the resident's health.

Additionally, timely communication allows for proper documentation of the adverse effect, which is essential for ongoing patient care. Reporting fosters a collaborative approach to managing the resident's medication regimen and ensures that all healthcare providers are informed of any issues related to medication safety.

In contrast, other actions could jeopardize the resident's wellbeing. Monitoring for 24 hours without reporting may delay critical care if the adverse effect worsens. Restarting the medication with a lower dose could exacerbate the problem, particularly if the resident has a documented adverse reaction that indicates the medication should be discontinued or switched. Ignoring the symptoms is clearly dangerous, as it fails to recognize the need for medical attention and could lead to serious consequences. Hence, immediate reporting is the best practice in this scenario.