Tips for organization, speed??

I create a grid with the hours across the top and room numbers down the left side. Then I put a mark in the box when something is due. I use different notes for meds, dressings, etc. That way I can see ahead of time when I will be busy and try to plan accordingly. You will learn the meds eventually, or you can try noting the routine ones and getting your info ahead of time for those.

Good tip! Exactly what I did way back when. 'spent 30 mins doing the tracker prior to med pass but saved plenty of time flipping each MAR back and forth identifying who's due when. See sample attached.

I don't have any experience w/ long term care, but something I did in nursing school helped me TONS w/ the med situation. Most places where you work have several meds that are fairly common. I made up a sheet w/ the most common meds I came across and wrote down the description of it, purpose, side effects, etc (whatever I thought was important.)

Just a tid bit of advice that may, or may not, help

Here is what I do.
Get report
walk the hall look at all my pts (make sure everyone is breathing)
Check blood sugars And give insulin.
Come back to the desk and go through tx book write down all nursing tx that are timed like nebs, ivs, or injections and Gt meds . Also things like dressing changes that aren't timed. I flag them in tx book too, but now I have a working shd.
I usually try to do gt, iv , injections, and nebs before I start med pass just because there are less of those then po meds. Also I don't get any surprises like stopped up GT.
make sure med cart is stocked . Supplements , applesauce, cups, spoons, water, thickener, jelly, crackers,. I take a nurses note with me on one side I write down v/s which I check as I pass meds so I will have them later when its time to chart in pt chart.
On the other side I write down missing meds so that if a med isn't on cart I can call pharmacy after pass and order it stat.
Usually first med pass in am is heaviest after I am done with that one I flag the noon meds and take a break!!
Try to finish up skin tx and start charting.
Check pre lunch blood sugars and repeat.
Good Luck!

Save Steps!! Think of the time you spend going from the room back to the cart. When I go into a room, I think of who else is in that room. I not only give meds to one patient, but I may take a blood sugar and start a breathing treatment. When I go back to that room to give insulin, I take another resident's meds with me.

It's so important to stay focused when doing this. I always put the initials of the patient on the med cup with a permanent marker.

It also gets easier and quicker the more you do it. Good luck and hang in there!!

I use the report sheet (with the pts names) as I go through the med pass. I use a colored highlighter to check off each pt. as I give meds in the am. Then during the am med pass I write down next to the name the times of the next med (12, 1, 2 etc). In the afternoon, I cross of the time as I give them - it helps at the end of shift to double check that everything has been checked off in the mar. I also make sure to get the info in report as to how the pt. takes the meds (crush etc)
Get everything you need on the med cart, applesauce, drinks, iv supplies, neb tx, insulin needles, etc. the less you have to go back to the med room, etc the better. Sometimes I bring the pharmacy reorder form too so if I am out of something I can just write the order at the cart.
I also make a list of the tx, with a check off and put it on the report sheet before I head out for the med pass.
If I you get bogged down with families or pts wanting to talk, simply tell them you are mandated by the state to get meds out in time, you can talk later.
Good luck!