leaving meds at bedside

[rnto?]

I work in a sub-acute/rehab unit with a long term care section. It's always been my understanding that you cannot just walk in, leave a person's pills on thier tray table, walk out, and mark that you gave them. Is this correct? I am a supervisor and occasionally work on the floor, it is astonishing to me how many times aides or family members come up to me with pills, "i found this on the floor" or "this was on my mom's table, is she supposed to take it?" Am I wrong?

ETA: There are a few patients who do have physician orders stating, "OK to leave meds at bedside" but these are few.

[HazeKomp, BSN, RN]

I DID work once in the 1980's at a maternity hospital that had a very progressive pharmacy staff and a very interesting medication policy/philosophy.

All oral meds prescribed were filled by the pharmacy as though at a drug store. Into a bottle, labeled. Then the drugs were brought to the bedside and dispensed by the pharmacist directly to the patient. Patient teaching was documented by the pharmacist. This was for everything from vitamins to pain meds.

The idea was that patients need to be responsible for their own medications.

very unusual.

[tewdles, RN]

I DID work once in the 1980's at a maternity hospital that had a very progressive pharmacy staff and a very interesting medication policy/philosophy.

All oral meds prescribed were filled by the pharmacy as though at a drug store. Into a bottle, labeled. Then the drugs were brought to the bedside and dispensed by the pharmacist directly to the patient. Patient teaching was documented by the pharmacist. This was for everything from vitamins to pain meds.

The idea was that patients need to be responsible for their own medications.

very unusual.

I agree, unusual and interesting. One could argue that some are in the hospital secondary to their inability to manage their meds and health. hhhmmm, I must ponder this...

[Siddhartha]

I've talked to my superiors about it, they just brush it off. To me it's a big deal!

It is a big deal. Follow the chain of command beyond your supervisors. It is a resident event/med error. Keep up the good work and yes, we are patient advocates, not just med monkeys.

Peace

[*bettie*]

"I've talked to my superiors about it, they just brush it off. To me it's a big deal!"

You are absolutely correct inyour thinking. If you sign off on it, then it is your responsiblity and your license. In my short experience as a nurse, and in LTC, I have noticed that many nurses take shortcuts, perhaps from pressures, workloads, desire to take more breaks or just plain laziness. Don't fall into the trap of bad habits just because someone else does them. Will they pay your mortgage if you lose your job/license? Do you think the admin will fall on the sword for you? Not likely! Your professionalism will serve to be a role model.

Best of luck!