During a follow-up visit with a patient recently started on Coumadin, the home health nurse is concerned after seeing an herbal remedy that enhances the effect of anticoagulants by the patient's bedside.

What is this herbal remedy?

Choice A rationale:
Pneumonia is an infection in the lungs, not fluid accumulation due to heart disease.
Choice B rationale:
Asthma is a chronic condition causing inflammation and narrowing of the bronchial tubes, not fluid accumulation.
Choice C rationale:
Pulmonary edema is the correct answer. It’s a condition caused by excess fluid in the lungs, which can be a complication of heart disease.
Choice D rationale:
Ascites is fluid accumulation in the abdomen, not the lungs.

The correct answers are B, D, and E.

Choice A Reason: The provider’s name is not an acceptable client identifier for medication administration. The provider’s name is associated with the person who prescribes or orders the medication, not the client who is to receive it. It does not reliably identify the individual for whom the service or treatment is intended.

Choice B Reason: The client’s full name is a primary and acceptable identifier. It is unique to the individual and is used to match the service or treatment to that individual. It is one of the most common identifiers used in healthcare settings to ensure that the correct patient receives the correct medication.

Choice C Reason: The facility room number is not an acceptable identifier. Room numbers can change if patients are moved, and they are not unique to an individual. Therefore, they do not reliably identify the person for whom the service or treatment is intended.

Choice D Reason: An identification number the facility assigns, such as a medical record number, is an acceptable identifier. It is unique to the client and is used across healthcare settings to track patient information, including medication administration.

Choice E Reason: The client’s telephone number can be considered an acceptable identifier, especially in settings where other identifiers might not be available. It is unique to an individual and can be used to verify the client’s identity.