I just need some advice on this one, and it's making me NERVOUS.

Specialties Geriatric

Published

I am a new grad LPN. I started my very first nursing job last week, and have been orentating since last Wednesday. On the wing that I will be working on, I have 1 resident in particular that asks for PRN Ativan at least four times per day, and other nurses have openly admitted to not giving it to her but telling her that they have. This resident does not exhibit any overt signs of increased anxiety at all, and her behavior doesn't change whether she receives the medication or doesn't. The nurse I was orientating with did the same thing; she will tell her that all her pills are in her med cup and administer away. Like I said, there are no changes in behavior; she believes she got her ativan, so she doesn't ask for another one for 6 hours (she gets it every 6 hours PRN). I did the same thing last night, but suddenly I'm under investigation, despite the fact that it's been going on far longer than I've been there. I'm suspended without pay pending investigation, and I'm just wondering if anyone knows what typical outcomes are. My nurse manager just said that re-education would likely be the result, but that doesn't make me any less nervous!

Good luck with it, and thank you for posting this. I'm not a nurse yet, but seeing things like this helps me learn from the lessons of others instead of having to fall and scrape my knee myself.

Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

I don't know,just a thought here but why not just give it q6h if it is safe to do so. Who knows maybe after a few days her "neediness" and on the call light 6-8 times an hour will decrease. Of course I don't know this person or other assessment information re her but if its ordered and safe, why lie. At least giving q6, she wouldn't have to ask and this could free all of you up to do other things. I treat these types of meds just like pain.. Even though I can't see it, doesn't mean its' not there.

what was wrong with just giving her the ativan? So unprofessional I can't believe people actually do this. No integrity.

Specializes in MDS/ UR.
Wow that's kinda harsh punishment. I've told a pt that I'm giving pain medicine when in fact I was just pushing 5cc of NS. But that was because the MD didn't want to order iv pain medicine. It was a last resort and miraculously that solved her problem lol.

You think this is funny?

You are proud of this?

You think this was a right thing to do?

I am sure your licensing board thinks otherwise.

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
Wow that's kinda harsh punishment. I've told a pt that I'm giving pain medicine when in fact I was just pushing 5cc of NS. But that was because the MD didn't want to order iv pain medicine. It was a last resort and miraculously that solved her problem lol.

Yikes. Not good. Not only is it deceptive to the patient, but if it ever came to light that a patient claimed you gave him/her narcs, and it somehow gets discovered that they did not, in fact, get any narcs, you could be under suspicion for diversion.

Some of the things people admit to here boggles my mind.

Specializes in MDS/ UR.
Yikes. Not good. Not only is it deceptive to the patient, but if it ever came to light that a patient claimed you gave him/her narcs, and it somehow gets discovered that they did not, in fact, get any narcs, you could be under suspicion for diversion.

Some of the things people admit to here boggles my mind.

Look at a thread she started about a coworker and narcotic restrictions.

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

First, please use correct grammar. You orient to a position not "orientate". It is difficult to read posts when I am not able to see past the usage of the English language.

Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.

As discussed numerous times "orientate" is actually a real word and in this case is being used correctly. It seems to be a regional thing In the US and is common across Canada and the UK.

First, please use correct grammar. You orient to a position not "orientate". It is difficult to read posts when I am not able to see past the usage of the English language.

I can understand being a grammar nazi when the post is clearly written like this:

"I cn understnd...... yes, sometims its dificult to understnd this....."

But come on. ONE word you don't agree with, and suddenly her post is unreadable because she can't use the English language well enough for you?

Sticks in bums, I say :roflmao:.

It is NOT for us nurses to decide what an alert and oriented patient needs, or how often. If there is an order for it and it is time, give the patient their dang med! Never lie to them because you decide they don't "need" it. Shame on the nurse you were orienting with for teaching you bad habits from the get go.

Plus there should be a check and balance for PRN's for behaviors, or psyche issues. Don't you have to document effective, or not? hmm that opens a whole new can of worms

So she's on the call-light all the time...did you ever think that maybe THAT was a sign of, oh, I don't know, ANXIETY??? She seems pretty ANXIOUS to get her Ativan, doesn't she? As a chronic anxiety sufferer, I take offense that anyone would think that because someone doesn't "look anxious," then she must really not need her medication. Do you know what I'm able to do with my medication? The stuff I need to get done during the day: cleaning, cooking, working, caring for my family and myself. Do you know what I do when I'm not on my medication? Lay on the couch in front of the TV, desperately trying to "relax" and calm myself down. Sounds backwards, I know, but you'd understand if you thought about it a little. You don't know what's going on in my head, and you have no idea what's going on in your resident's head.

I hope you learned your lesson.

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