Improving Patient Knowledge of Common Post-Surgical PRN Medications

Effective patient education on post-surgical PRN medications is essential for safe medication adherence. Currently, bedside nurses provide first-time education on medication purpose, dosage, and side effects. However, factors such as nurse workload, individual knowledge, and patient recall can lead to gaps in understanding. Limited patient and family involvement further impacts adherence to safe medication practices. Goal/Aim: This project aimed to enhance patient and family knowledge of commonly used PRN medications by implementing informative health posters in patient rooms, improving accessibility to medication information and reinforcing education. Actions Taken: Posters were created featuring the most frequently prescribed PRN medications, their uses, side effects, and brand names in English and Spanish. These were placed at bedside for easy visibility. A pre-intervention survey of 50 nurses assessed how often they explained medication reasons and side effects. After a four-week trial, feedback was collected from 33 nurses and 18 patients. Summary of Results: Nurses found the posters time-saving and a valuable reference. While patient engagement remained unchanged, 61% of patients found the posters helpful. This intervention demonstrates potential for improving medication literacy and patient-provider communication.