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.

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Specializes in Cardiothoracic ICU.

It was probably ordered AS NEEDED but the nurse should have followed your request and brought them every 4 hours. There is no reason why the nurse couldn't have followed your request.

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Specializes in ER, Trauma.

Narcotic pain meds are given upon request with a minimum time between so that people aren't taking meds they don't need. It tells the staff how well your pain is being controlled, allows the staff to evaluate pain each time you need meds, and meets legal requirements. It's a shame you felt like you were being treated like an addict. We in health care don't always do a good job of explaining why we do some things in ways that appear strange but are for the patients benefit.

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Specializes in ER, Trauma.
It was probably ordered AS NEEDED but the nurse should have followed your request and brought them every 4 hours. There is no reason why the nurse couldn't have followed your request.

Not sure what your training is, but your answer is completely wrong.

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Specializes in Cardiothoracic ICU.

Well in this situation you can anticipate the patient will still be in pain and reassess their pain as soon as the dose is available again without making the patient call for it again, not sure what your backround is.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.
Not sure what your training is, but your answer is completely wrong.

Why is this wrong? I had a Res that had PRN pain meds but she has requested for us to bring them to her when she could have another. She was in constant pain and never refused them when we brought them to her. She was grateful because she would worry that her call light wouldn't be answered quickly or I'd be off doing something for someone else and she would have to wait in pain for 30 min to an hour. That way she knew I would be there and she wouldn't be anxious about it in between getting the pain meds.

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Specializes in ER, Trauma.
Well in this situation you can anticipate the patient will still be in pain and reassess their pain as soon as the dose is available again without making the patient call for it again, not sure what your backround is.

My background is clearly listed in the header. What's your training?

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Specializes in NICU, M/B, PEDS.

As an aside....why do people have to be so darned snippy with each other?

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Specializes in Cardiothoracic ICU.

I'm only a student in my last year but I see no reason why you can't bring a patient more pain meds in such a situation in which pain is expected. You would of course reassess pain but i don't see why i am completely wrong in this answer.

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Specializes in Wound Care, LTC, Sub-Acute, Vents.
i'm only a student in my last year but i see no reason why you can't bring a patient more pain meds in such a situation in which pain is expected. you would of course reassess pain but i don't see why i am completely wrong in this answer.

because it is a prn med, meaning the patient needs to ask for it. if my patient needs it every 4 hours, i will call the md and have the order change to a standing order. problem solved!

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Specializes in Cardiothoracic ICU.
because it is a prn med, meaning the patient needs to ask for it. if my patient needs it every 4 hours, i will call the md and have the order change to a standing order. problem solved!

but then the next day when the narcotic is no longer necessary your stuck with an order. i guess we can all do things differently.

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Specializes in Wound Care, LTC, Sub-Acute, Vents.
but then the next day when the narcotic is no longer necessary your stuck with an order. i guess we can all do things differently.

easy.

percocet 5-325 mg 1 tab po every 4 hrs x 48 hours. (of course i will tell md per patient request)

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