asking for meds?

Nurses General Nursing

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okay, this could be a stupid question/story, but my degree is not in nursing - i start this summer :D

so, when i was in the hospital after a c-section (with my 2nd child) and my son was in NICU - i was prescribed to lortabs (2 every four hours). since i was staying in the hospital, i didn't have to go out and get a prescription - the nurse brought it to me...while i was there.

when i had my first child, i was released from the hospital the next day after my c-section - went to the pharmacy, and took MAYBE 5 or 6 pills once i was home. the rest stayed in my med. cabinet.

but with my 2nd child being in NICU and me being stuck at the hospital without being able to breastfeed, hold him, and do all the things new mothers usually do - i was a nervous wreck and stir crazy - wanting to walk to see him, wanting to walk to the ice machine, wanting to put on make up, wanting to go develop pictures - wanting to do ANYTHING besides sit in the hospital bed without my baby!

point being - since i was doing so much running around, i actually needed the pain meds this time. so, after about 6-7 hours without, i asked the nurse if i could have some and she was nice and brought them to me. i suspected that she'd bring me some 4-5 hours later. when she didn't, i asked again. she brought them to me. i asked if they could just bring them to me when they had the chance (around the time i was prescribed) because i would be needing them and i didn't want to bother them - and she said no, and that i had to ask for them. i felt like a drug addict begging for meds every 4-5 hours! i hated it. and after a few times of asking, i felt like THEY were treating me like one!

why do you have to ASK for pain meds in the hospital when they're prescribed after surgery? i'm sure there's a reason - it just made no sense at the time.

Specializes in Medical.

Hi, onaclearday - my impression from AN is that Dilaudid is used fairly widely across the US; I just meant that, because my experience with it is limited and recent, I didn't feel compfortable discussing any of the dosing examples given here :)

Its interesting to learn of the trends facility to facility, country to country.

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