Smart Nurse vs. Dumb Pharmacy, Round One. DING! - Page 3

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  1. Oct 6, '10 by
    AHHHH rings so true! Working on a surgical floor, virtually every shift, I took time out from my patients to talk to IDIOT pharmacists (or lab techs) who really just needed to call the physician. The middle man crap is ridiculous! You have a phone, you clearly know how to use it, so call information and get the right doctor's number to call instead of WASTING MY TIME!
    VivaLasViejas likes this.
  2. Oct 6, '10 by
    Yup, "the left hand doesn't know what the right is doing" re: your issue with the pharmacy. I have had similar issues with the pharmacy. It is a business; just another issue that takes away from the quality of care given to the elderly.
    VivaLasViejas likes this.
  3. Oct 6, '10 by
    Viva,
    I admire your descriptive writing so much. I think you should put this message in the writing contest. It could get you some extra much needed cash.
    VivaLasViejas likes this.
  4. Oct 6, '10 by
    Oh how I can elate to this scenario. As a LTC LPN working evening shift I have to answer a lot of pharmacy calls of this nature. I can usually convince them to send the med by saying the Doctor is aware because it's usually a B*llsh*t possible reaction. This doesn't fly with narcotics of course but we do have an on-call Doc from 5PM Friday to Monday morning so that's our go to. There should be an RN Supervisor in the building who can help with the issue too. Thankfully, we have a PA who works evenings and usually comes through the unit asking if I need anything at least once a shift. Boy, now I appreciate our system abit more!
    VivaLasViejas likes this.
  5. Oct 6, '10 by
    Great writing! I spent many a Friday evening shift in your shoes. LTC nursing is not for wimps
    VivaLasViejas likes this.
  6. Oct 6, '10 by
    I have to mention

    Anyone find it ironic that somehow insurance/pharmacies have the funds to have 6 different people have the TIME to call the ONE nurse with 40 pts to care for, and yet not have time to call the MDs.

    Something's seriously wrong with the priorities here.
    Lovely_RN, Franemtnurse, scoochy, and 2 others like this.
  7. Oct 6, '10 by
    Believe me, there is plenty of talk in the pharmacy about dumb nurses who call with ridiculous questions that could have been easily answered by looking in the chart, the MAR, nursing drug reference, etc. I can't tell you how many times we have shaken our heads when an irritated nurse has called to complain that her patient's meds are unavailable, and we go up there to find them right in the patient's bin, where they have been sitting the whole time. We are mystified at how nurses get the Pyxis count so fouled up sometimes. And just how many times are you going to call about the "missing" Pepcid, that is in the refrigerator, where it always is? I could go on and on.

    There are "idiots" all over the hospital. Just sayin!
  8. Oct 6, '10 by
    What a hoot? I can so identify with this. Didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
    VivaLasViejas likes this.
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    Oct 6, '10 by
    Quote from LilyRoseRN
    AHHHH rings so true! Working on a surgical floor, virtually every shift, I took time out from my patients to talk to IDIOT pharmacists (or lab techs) who really just needed to call the physician. The middle man crap is ridiculous! You have a phone, you clearly know how to use it, so call information and get the right doctor's number to call instead of WASTING MY TIME!
    Oh, this reminds me of another dumb-pharmacy call I got in the middle of a shift a couple of weeks ago. They had a question about a medication, then actually asked me to look up a doctor's number in the phone book for them. Not even a local doctor, either, but one from THEIR area.

    I didn't believe I'd heard right, so I gave my phone ear a quick going-over and said: "What??"

    "I need you to find out the doctor's phone number and give it to me."

    Incredulous, I sputtered the first thing that came to my mind: "Don't you have a phone book? Or an Internet connection? I've got the MD's name on the chart, but I don't have his number either. I also don't have a Portland phone book or computer access."

    "But I need his number............."
    wooh and scoochy like this.
  10. Oct 6, '10 by
    I loves me the pharmacists for the most part. They are usually helpful and wonderful.
    VivaLasViejas likes this.