Survey about med administration for a class

[Casey, RN]

I'm working on a project for my RN-BSN class about medication administration safety. I've created a short survey (6 questions) and would love if some of you wouldn't mind responding. It's completely anonymous and I would really appreciate some responses!

Here is the link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/X2L8JQ5

Thank you in advance!!

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

I can't answer almost any of your questions. We use Epic, so no handwritten orders. Because the surgeons are scrubbed, if they give me a verbal order I enter it in Epic and they sign it after surgery. When I'm giving meds, the patient is already asleep, so I can't ask name/DOB. Do always check allergies. Documentation gets done at some point during the surgery- I also document some of the meds that anesthesia gives, so it's usually after the fact because I have to ask, they never remember to tell me. Also, we don't document some of the meds used until surgery is complete, especially local (some given as an intercostal block before closing, some given as subcutaneous block during closing). The OR is a unique environment when it comes to medications, as some are given by anesthesia, some are given by the RN, some are given by the person running the cardiopulmonary bypass machine, and some are given by the PA.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Add me to the list of people who can't answer these questions. Haven't ever worked somewhere that used hand-written orders.

[Casey, RN]

I attempted to fill out your survey, but being night shift, the first two questions almost never happen to me.

Sorry. I tried.

Thanks anyway :-)

[Casey, RN]

Do you need to supply any sort of information about the respondents to this survey? I realize that this is anonymous, but you don't even know if the people filling it out are RNs, LPNs, nursing students...

I thought about that but we should all be following the same rules like checking patient ID, etc. I'm more concerned about what nurses in general are doing, as opposed to their title like RN, etc. At least that was my thinking. Thanks for the suggestion though! :-)

[Casey, RN]

I agree - I added that so it will be there for anyone else who completes the survey. :-) Thank you for the suggestions :-)

[Casey, RN]

Verbal orders are not allowed at our facility unless it is in a code situation.

They aren't at mine either, but that doesn't mean they don't happen :-) Personally, I won't take them but I know some do.

[Casey, RN]

We don't allow hand written orders at all any more, so I can't answer the first two questions. We do bar code scanning so 4&6 don't apply to me either.

We also do barcode scanning, but I still have to ask my patient's name and DOB (they might have the wrong band on).

Out of curiosity, you don't chart the meds after you give them? I've only ever worked at one hospital so I only know our system - we scan and ID the patient, scan the meds and then hit "chart" on the computer in the system.

[Casey, RN]

Answered the survey for you! Good luck in your classes :)

Thank you!

[Casey, RN]

I can't answer almost any of your questions. We use Epic, so no handwritten orders. Because the surgeons are scrubbed, if they give me a verbal order I enter it in Epic and they sign it after surgery. When I'm giving meds, the patient is already asleep, so I can't ask name/DOB. Do always check allergies. Documentation gets done at some point during the surgery- I also document some of the meds that anesthesia gives, so it's usually after the fact because I have to ask, they never remember to tell me. Also, we don't document some of the meds used until surgery is complete, especially local (some given as an intercostal block before closing, some given as subcutaneous block during closing). The OR is a unique environment when it comes to medications, as some are given by anesthesia, some are given by the RN, some are given by the person running the cardiopulmonary bypass machine, and some are given by the PA.

That's very interesting and definitely a different set of circumstances! Thanks for sharing. I've never worked in an OR so I never really thought about that. It amazes me how in one profession (like nursing) things can vary so much - that's one thing I love about nursing - the opportunities are endless!

[MessyMomma]

Done!

[Casey, RN]

Add me to the list of people who can't answer these questions. Haven't ever worked somewhere that used hand-written orders.

Thanks anyway! That must be nice!!! Some of our floors are going to CPOE but we aren't there yet We have electronic charting for the nurses and our secretary enters orders (for labs, supplies, etc) that the doctor orders, but for medications - those are still written (poorly) by hand.

[Casey, RN]

Thanks to everyone who has done the survey or tried to do it. I really appreciate it!! I work the next three days so I'm going to leave it open until my next day off in case anyone else happens upon the thread.