When you ask Ms. F to think more about the medications she takes, she is able to provide you with a list. You ask her if she takes any other “medications.” Is this the correct term to use?

You are doing a clinical rotation at a neighborhood nursing center. You have been assigned to work with patients who walk in for advice on maintaining their health and promoting wellness. Ms. F enters the center. She tells you that she has been very agitated lately. She is irritable and has been having difficulty sleeping. You begin to gather data on Ms. F. You ask questions about her medical history, current medications, and treatments. Ms. F informs you that she has type 1 diabetes and that she takes medications for her heart. She can’t remember what the drugs are right now, but she knows that she has high blood pressure and blockages in her heart that are being treated with medication.

When you ask Ms. F to think more about the medications she takes, she is able to provide you with a list. You ask her if she takes any other “medications.” Is this the correct term to use? Ms. F tells you, “My friend told me to take a natural product called ‘ma huang’ to help me lose weight. It can’t hurt me; it’s just a part of some plant.” How should you respond?