I know in hospice that patients are able to receive quite a bit of morphine during the dying process, but what is the normal dose at the care facility where you work? My hospital had a recent pt that was dying d/t hem. stroke and was already passing quickly when the family went above the nurses head and called MD at home, who then came in and gave nurse verbal order for morphine 4mg q10 min for pain prn. Aside from the fact that this pt had NO s/s of pain whatsoever, the MD said to nurse (with other nurses present) "the family is tired, just give it every 10 minutes unitil respirations stop". Very thankful I was not the nurse but this has really bothered a lot of us, and I just wanted to know if anyone has had a similar order?