Puuuuuuulese!!

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

I work in an office setting so I often see notes come across my desk or get phone calls regarding medications.What are your favorite excuses why a patient needs their narcotics filled early?

Mine:

"I dropped my Vicodin in a mud puddle and they instantly evaporated!"

"I was vacuuming with the hose and accidentally sucked up the bottle, I tried to shake it out and by the time I got the vacuum shut off all the pills were powder!"

"I dropped them in the boat motor..."

How come no one ever loses their antibiotics?!?! :nono:

I work in an office setting so I often see notes come across my desk or get phone calls regarding medications.What are your favorite excuses why a patient needs their narcotics filled early?

Mine:

"I dropped my Vicodin in a mud puddle and they instantly evaporated!"

"I was vacuuming with the hose and accidentally sucked up the bottle, I tried to shake it out and by the time I got the vacuum shut off all the pills were powder!"

"I dropped them in the boat motor..."

How come no one ever loses their antibiotics?!?! :nono:

On my floor we have gotten in the habit of putting the fentanyl patch on the back between the shoulder blades and covering it with a tegaderm, so it doesn't "accidently fall off and get lost".

HEY ! I lost my antibiotics once in Mexico ! :roll

You forgot the all time fav ...so I've heard....'They were stolen !'

Z

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho.

Oh they only lose antibiotics when they are for their kids. Heaven knows we wouldnt want mom or dad to be inconvienced to STAY HOME with their sick kid. Antibiotics cure everything dont they?

I work in an office setting so I often see notes come across my desk or get phone calls regarding medications.What are your favorite excuses why a patient needs their narcotics filled early?

Mine:

"I dropped my Vicodin in a mud puddle and they instantly evaporated!"

"I was vacuuming with the hose and accidentally sucked up the bottle, I tried to shake it out and by the time I got the vacuum shut off all the pills were powder!"

"I dropped them in the boat motor..."

How come no one ever loses their antibiotics?!?! :nono:

Aw, come on. Most people don't even finish their antibiotics, can't say the same about narcs though!

I've only heard the tired and extremely lame excuses. Can't wait to read what others have heard!!

"My script blew away"

How come no one ever loses their antibiotics?!?! :nono:

Good question... and why don't they request to refill their antibiotics or other non-narc meds early?? Hmmm...

It's like in school when someone has asked to miss class and grandma has died... for the 3rd time. ;)

BTW, when I went on my honeymoon I had my narcs in my carryon and the airline INSISTED that it be sent down below due to the size of the aircraft (a puddle jumper). You can bet that I was first in line when we got off that plane to retrieve my bags before running to meet our connecting flight. I didn't want that bag going out of my sight for a second!! In fact, when we got to the hotel, I had all my narcs locked up in the room safe so NO ONE could get to them. As a chronic pain sufferer I signed a narc contract with my doc. I follow that thing to the LETTER!

I can tell you from personal experience...this thing doesn't stick worth on a darn. I tried alcohol, skin prep, plain ole soap and water. What I finally found work...and it may work for patients in putting it on my mid-theigh. I put in right on my quad so to speak. For whatever reason it works! I know that many patients may be "seeking", but for those who aren't this may work. I was on the patch for 6 months for endometriosis pain before I found a doctor willing to do yet another surgery on me. This medication saved me from dealing with a lot of pain.

On my floor we have gotten in the habit of putting the fentanyl patch on the back between the shoulder blades and covering it with a tegaderm, so it doesn't "accidently fall off and get lost".
Specializes in Psychiatry.

When I worked in retail pharmacy, my favorite was:

"My Lortab was in the purse, and someone stole my purse."

Interesting, enough, this was the FOURTH time this pt had her purse stolen in 6 months!!!

Needless to say, we wouldn't refill her script early!!

:chuckle

I had several favorites when working with a group of ortho surgeons. One man was mugged 4 times and they only took his narcotics, never his identification or money. My all time favorite is "I had the bottle in my jeans and my wife washed them." I actually took an Rx bottle filled it with tylenol, put in jeans and washed it on super cycle. They were fine. I also spilled some in the wet sink, they did not dissolve, put them on a paper towel and they dried beautifully

Specializes in Geriatrics/Oncology/Psych/College Health.
On my floor we have gotten in the habit of putting the fentanyl patch on the back between the shoulder blades and covering it with a tegaderm, so it doesn't "accidently fall off and get lost".

Our policy is no replacements until the next dose is due (psych/addictions floor.) We do frequently tegaderm them on, though.

Oh they only lose antibiotics when they are for their kids. Heaven knows we wouldnt want mom or dad to be inconvienced to STAY HOME with their sick kid. Antibiotics cure everything dont they?

my MIL saves them (antibiotics) and uses them all the time for various reasons ..tries to pawn them off on her son ..and OUR son ...little one

I am so freaked out by that ...she is not on the same wavelength and there is a language barrier so i chalk it up to cultural differences.. I try to educate but it goes out the window :uhoh21:

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