What should you do with patient's medications when NPO

[muwendo]

Thanks very much I know what to do when administering Blood transfusion. In our hosp, I don't even know if there is a policy. some doctors will say no meds during transfusion others say give only PO meds. Would you please an lighten me on Medication I/v and PO when patient is NPO. Again some drs will write pt. npo except PO med only.

[loriangel14, RN]

It depends on the meds and what they are NPO for. The best thing is to ask the doctor. I have never seen a patient NPO for a blood transfusion. I have had people sit up and eat lunch while it was running .

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

Why no oral meds while receiving blood? I've never heard of such a thing

[FL_Nurse92]

Most orders usually specify. Such as "NPO except meds"... but if not you can always page the doctor. I have also never heard anything about not meds when giving blood....

[db2xs]

The only reason why I can think of why a patient should be NPO while a blood transfusion is going is if they're going to a procedure that day that requires deep sedation. Obviously, there are more, but that's the first that comes to mind.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

We use Epic, and the NPO order has an exceptions field: e.g. NPO except sips with meds, ice chips, strict etc.

Strict NPO is strict NPO. If they can have po meds, they get their meds. I have contacted the MD for a strict NPO order, where they don't write an IV equivalent for important po meds. For example, pt on oral Keppra but strict NPO -- dr needs to write for IV Keppra.

I have never in 13 yrs of nursing seen an order altering meds during a blood transfusion, or an NPO order for the blood transfusion alone (pre procedure transfusion yes, bc pt was NPO for the procedure.)

But anyway, when in doubt, clarify.