Sooo many crushed meds...

Specialties Geriatric

Published

I am a new Grad, just started in a LTC facility. I have no complaints about the place, the DON is wonderful, very supportive, I got a great orientation...ect.

One thing that I am not comfortable with is that ALOT of the residents get ALL their meds crushed. I know they have swallowing problems but even drugs that shouldn't be crushed are. I just read an article about how this can be dangerous for some meds, and I am nervous that something may happen down the road and I will be at fault for crushing meds when they shouldn't be crushed... even though everyone does it.

How should I handle this?

Bea :confused:

Specializes in PCU.

And this is why I would never return to LTC. Too many practices that make me question protocol/practice. Being in the hospital environment is so much easier as far as getting a hold of pharmacy, doctor, etc.

Definitely, if you have a pharmacy to contact, do so and see what they suggest. Then you can call the PCP and tell him your concern and what pharmacy suggests. Some docs will go with the pharmacy suggestions. Others will tell you to follow the orders (I have had irate doctors tell me to mind my own business and not tell them how to take care of their patients in the past:uhoh3:). Just do what you need to do and CHART, CHART, CHART!

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Crushing meds can change the way they work. Some even causing toxicity or numbing the mouth posing a choking hazard.

Here is the list of the ones you shouldn't crush:

http://www.ismp.org/tools/donotcrush.pdf

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Specializes in A myriad of specialties.

The veteran nurses are doing it as a time management tool or just because they're lazy. Both reasons are the wrong reasons. Like others said, check with the pharmacy; get your questions answered and pass meds safely.

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"What really sucks is when you ask the doc for a form that can be crushed now you're going from a daily med usually to a three or four times daily med which just increases the work load and stress for everyone involved, including the resident who doesn't want to be taking any pills in the first place."

Definitely need more alternatives...if all the crushed meds were changed to liquids you would have to deal with dozens of little bottles everywhere...

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Specializes in LTC.
"What really sucks is when you ask the doc for a form that can be crushed now you're going from a daily med usually to a three or four times daily med which just increases the work load and stress for everyone involved, including the resident who doesn't want to be taking any pills in the first place."

Definitely need more alternatives...if all the crushed meds were changed to liquids you would have to deal with dozens of little bottles everywhere...

And when one of those bottles spills! Stickiness all over the med cart. I hate liquid meds and the residents hate them even more.

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