title: Teaching adults SAFE medication management.
abstract: One in nine visits to the emergency department is the result of a drug-related adverse event and is possibly preventable (Zed et al., 2008). The rehabilitation nurse has the opportunity to teach adults a comprehensive medication management plan that will help reduce medication errors. Most patients have minimal medication experience or instruction; this article documents the effectiveness of using a S = systematic, A = accurate, F = functional, and E = effective instructional methodology to help patients learn about their medications. The methodology helps rehabilitation nurses teach the average patient about handling, absorbing, and implementing the information. This article presents detailed instruction about the salient points of the SAFE instructional program. Several figures, a checklist, and pictures demonstrate the techniques utilized. Prevention of medication errors is emphasized throughout.
authors.affiliation: Rainbow Medical Media Productions, Anaheim, CA, USA. byetzer@aol.com
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Yetzer
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Goetsch
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: St Paul
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D019145:Rehabilitation Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D012646:Self Administration / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing* / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D017744:Medical Waste Disposal