Determining time for next dose- please help!!!!

[SN67]

If you administer an IV medication at 1100 and it runs for an hour. The next dose is in 8 hours. When is the next dose supposed to be administered?

[CelticGoddess, BSN, RN]

What are your thoughts?

[SN67]

I believe it should be at 2000. The medication runs for an hour and is done at 1200.

[SN67]

I believe 2000, since it won't be finished until 120p

[michellelreck]

If we follow your logic and start the med at 2000 it'll be finished at 2100 which is 9 hours in between doses. You do it however many hours after the START time. So if the first one is started at 1100, next dose should be 1900 for 7 pm

[db2xs]

By default next meds are administered according to the start time, unless it states otherwise, like in some instances where it's a special kind of chemotherapy regimen and it asks to count time from finish time.

The next dose is given between 1900 and 2000 and depending on your institution's policy, it could even be given starting at 1800.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

I believe it should be at 2000. The medication runs for an hour and is done at 1200.

Incorrect. A medication given every 8 hours is to be given 3 times a day. If you time it by time done, you're going to be 3 hrs behind by the next day.

It is generally acceptable to give a medication within +/- 1 hr of the time due, though. So you could give the medication at 2000 if you're trying to, say, move it to a more manageable schedule at home and are moving each dose by 1 hr. (Side note as a home infusion RN, please think of this kind of thing if your patient will possibly be discharged on IV antibiotics.)

[SN67]

Thank you for your explanation!!!