Drawing up meds

Specialties Private Duty

Published

I have a patient I recently started and for some reason the nurses on this case keep prefilled syringes of each med in large labeled baggies..I do not understand why they do this and always draw up my own meds, and if there is none left in the bottle I don't give that med and chart why. Sometimes the mom will ask for meds for the next day to be drawn up for her, is doing that safe to do for her? the other nurses on the case do this as well and say its ok, but for obvious reason I do not trust their judgement.

There is a HUGE difference between a blind diabetic and a diabetic with severe mental illness mixing insulin AND parents who can't be bothered to call in a refill for their own child's prescription or measure out a teaspoon of medication.

If the OP's child was on all pills, she would probably have way less concern about pre-dispensing them. Pills are colored, shaped and sized differently. And have identifying markings on them. Liquids do not.

Specializes in Peds(PICU, NICU float), PDN, ICU.

I wouldn't draw it up for the mom for the next day either. If something happened after she gave it, it would fall back on you. However, she would have to prove you filled it and she didn't...and as they say, if it wasn't documented, it wasn't done. BUT!!! it would be a very bad idea IMO. Why put yourself in a bad situation that you don't have to?

Another thought....I know when older patients are getting agency services for only visits that nurses prefill med boxes for the week. So it could be viewed from that angle too. Still doesn't make me too comfortable knowing my license would be on the line and proof would be hard to show.

Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

Seriously, how long does it take to draw up a liquid med from a bottle? Is it a complicated procedure? I'm sorry if that sounds heartless - if parents need education say if they are just coming home from the hospital for the first time with a lot of equipment, meds and the like it's one of the most fulfilling things we can do . . .help them become proficient and safe caregivers like ventmommy who in turn are better "orienters" to nurses on their child's case.

I guess it has to be said that private duty/home care is one area where there are many compromises and exceptions as merlee mentioned that we need to deal with but if the only reason they ask is that they don't feel like it some further probing about why would be in order . . . in our area most people don't get skilled nurses 24/7 and it's some combination of skilled nursing, HH Aides, and the family PCG. We can all learn from each other.

Specializes in Pediatric Private Duty; Camp Nursing.

The curious difference between working in a facility and working in a home is this: in a facility, the nurse is expected to strictly adhere to care standards and not cut any corners. In a home, the nurse is often expected to loosen up on strict care standards and fudge things to suit the family's needs. Either situation poses its own challenges!

Specializes in Reproductive & Public Health.

Oh man, this just reminded me of a horror story from my MA days. I used to work at an ambulatory surgery center, and the UNLICENSED "assistant" would draw up a couple days' worth of versed and a narcotic analgesia ( I can't remember which one, it was so long ago). She would get a sterile basin, dump in a few vials of versed and a few vials of the narcotic, according to the ratio needed, stir it up and draw it into a bunch of 3cc syringes which she would then proceed to label and put in a big container. This was the same facility that had its MAs handing out valium like candy (the count was a total joke) and administering this versed cocktail IV push.

No flames- I was young and had no idea how horrible this was! I look back now and I can't believe it.

Oh man, this just reminded me of a horror story from my MA days. I used to work at an ambulatory surgery center, and the UNLICENSED "assistant" would draw up a couple days' worth of versed and a narcotic analgesia ( I can't remember which one, it was so long ago). She would get a sterile basin, dump in a few vials of versed and a few vials of the narcotic, according to the ratio needed, stir it up and draw it into a bunch of 3cc syringes which she would then proceed to label and put in a big container. This was the same facility that had its MAs handing out valium like candy (the count was a total joke) and administering this versed cocktail IV push.

No flames- I was young and had no idea how horrible this was! I look back now and I can't believe it.

I like the thought process here. I can just see the MA licking off the stir stick to keep it from dripping on the table when withdrawn from stirring the concoction!

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