Sample interview questions: How do you approach and manage patients’ pain and symptom management needs when they have difficulty swallowing or taking medications orally?
Sample answer:
Approach to Pain and Symptom Management with Difficulty Swallowing
1. Assessment:
- Evaluate the degree of difficulty swallowing: Use the Dysphagia Severity Scale or similar tools to assess the patient’s ability to swallow solids, liquids, or both.
- Identify underlying causes: Explore medical conditions, medications, or neurological deficits that may contribute to dysphagia.
2. Medication Administration:
- Liquid medications: Dilute or dissolve medications in small amounts of water or syrup. Consider using specific thickening agents to prevent aspiration.
- Rectal suppositories: Administer medications via suppository form for systemic absorption.
- Transdermal or topical: Use transdermal patches or topical creams for pain relief.
- Intravenous or subcutaneous injections: Consider IV or subcutaneous injections if oral or rectal administration is not possible.
3. Non-Pharmacological Interventions:
- Nutritional support: Provide adequate nutrition through alternative routes such as enteral or parenteral feeding.
- Oral hygiene: Maintain good oral hygiene to prevent mouth infections and facilitate swallowing.
- Positioning: Elevate the patient’s head and neck to improve swallowing ability.
- Alternative pain relief: Explore non-oral methods of pain relief such as heat … Read full answer
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