OBOY!....did I date myself today!!!!!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I have been in emergency nursing for many years. I cannot remember the last time I had to crush a pill for a patient; if the pt couldn't swallow pills I've always been able to find the liquid form or injectable. I had a kid who needed a Pyridium and can't swallow pills, so I went to medsurg looking for a mortar and pestle. Couldn't find one in the med room, so I went to the desk. A new grad who's been out for less than a year told me there was one in the med room, and I told her I couldn't find it. She led me back there and pulled out this heavy metal silver contraption that I had seen and didn't recognize.....a pill crusher! When I was in school we didn't have a pill crusher, had to use a mortar and pestle!

I wish I'd had a camera for the look on her face........:roll

Specializes in Med-Tele, ICU.

Ever washed out gloves and reused them? My mother-in-law is 77 and a retired RN...she can remember doing this!!

I am a newer RN (will make my 1 year anniversary in May). I have seen several different types of med crushers. My late father-in-law was a pharmacist, so my m-i-l has some antique pill crushers from him.

At the hospital I work at, we have the Silent Knight, and I have to agree it's probably the easiest. But, I feel like some residue does get stuck in those heavy plastic bags. I have NEVER thought of using boiling water to dissolve meds!! :idea: Brilliant idea for tube feeders. It always seems like most of your meds get stuck on the bottom of the plunger of the 60cc syringe.

The other ideas of crushing are hilarious!! Our pill crusher always seems to be accessible..it's the pill splitter that you can never find!! Any alternate ideas of cutting meds? I've tried my scissors, a needle, pop it apart with my fingers (if it's scored and not a "heavy" pill such as Metoprolol or tiny like Lasix 20mg or Prednisone 5mg that you have to split in 1/2!). Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!!

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it's the pill splitter that you can never find!! Any alternate ideas of cutting meds? I've tried my scissors, a needle, pop it apart with my fingers (if it's scored and not a "heavy" pill such as Metoprolol or tiny like Lasix 20mg or Prednisone 5mg that you have to split in 1/2!). Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!!

A scalpel.

Recently, my husband was reading the news and he said "Hey, Don Knotts died!"

My 16-year-old said "Who's that?"

She barely escaped to her room alive..........

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Specializes in Med-Tele, ICU.

Never thought about a scalpel!! :idea: Guess I need to make some friends with the surgical nurses!!

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*modestly*

Actually I'm an ER nurse, but you're welcome!

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Specializes in Med-Tele, ICU.

Sorry...didn't mean to offend you. :o

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Omigosh, NO offense taken, I was just teasing!!!!

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I love, love, love those things. Best idea ever. We don't use them at my facility we have the old metal things. Place a pill between two paper cups and bang away! At least once a shift I'll hear an confused resident say "Who's knocking? Come on in!" :roll

LOL...the residents do that all the time at my work. The Med tech will be beating the pills and residents will be yelling in their rooms "Come in!". :lol2:

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