Are verbal orders still done?

[pumlittlekin]

Hey everyone

This question is for everyone,

Are verbal orders still done? I thought we could no longer do verbal orders.

[military spouse]

At the hospital where I work we should only take VOs in an emergency situation. Docs still occasionally give them though.... I usually enter them as a telephone order to avoid problems. Not sure I should be doing it this way but I'm not sure how else to get around it.

I understand!! Our system is very frustrating and a few times I've called the Doc so that I could get a TO instead of walking to where they're sitting and get a VO since we aren't allowed to get VOs anymore. It's not right, but our computer system is so impossible that a Doc hesitates to give orders if they have to put it in the computer.

[Lacie, BSN, RN]

I recently worked the last 3 years in Chronic Outpatient Dialysis and have yet to see an MD write an order. They would come around give us all verbal orders on thier rounds, we would write them and hope the doc got to them in the time limit. They also kept RX pads and we walk around and fill them out and sign them for them. Thing is many had NP on thier staff so couldnt figure out why thier NP's werent doing these as they would do the same for rounds giving verbal orders and leave. Believe me I had better things to do.

[HappyNurse2005, RN]

we are supposed to only if the doc is in a procedure, in the operating room, etc. we are in labor and delivery, so in the OR or in a lady partsl delivery is common. there is debate about if being asleep in bed is reason to do it. we also do computer order entry.

[RNsharkinaj]

They're still done, but the new computer system as forced the doctors to agree to put all their orders in, especially since they can be outside the hospital even and enter orders. They still occur, but I would recommend making a nursing note to verify the exact order, and to avoid taken verbal orders for any meds. If something happens, the nurse will not be the first person management would believe....

[mysticalmoonray]

Getting to know and establish a rapport with your physician when possible helps. Though yes I've taken verbal orders and knew they would document them as such later. In emergency situations its a must, or when a office gets really busy.

[ICURNINATL]

The JCAHO answer would be "No". The nurse who can decipher between the BS and "getting the job done" would officially answer "No", but figure out that all you have to do is write T.O. instead of V.O. and it's not an issue.

[sasha1224]

When I read this, I immediately though of this one doc at my last facility who was notorious for not writing his own orders. I guess one night, he had a patient admitted at the time he was in the building. The charge approached him to write orders and he demanded she call him later. So he is still in the building after she "built" the admitting orders. He was in the unit and still wouldn't talk to her so she paged him. He was literally at the other end of the nurses station and answers the page and proceeds to approve the orders. Mind you she is sitting at the same station. This was the most extreme case I have seen of a doctor avoiding writing their own orders! Currently, if I have a "VO" I will write what they tell me and then just shove the chart at them for signing, so far has worked every time.

[Tait, MSN, RN]

I hand them the chart.

We have a freshie surgeon who likes to come in and yammer off late night orders. I just look at him and go "that's nice, don't forget to write it up in the chart."

Tait

[skittlebear]

VO's are very routine where I work. We always chart...VORB

[diane227, LPN, RN]

Not supposed to do it but it gets done sometimes just to get things going.

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

VOs are routine in my ED. The doctors must sign off on their charts and do their dictations before they leave at the end of the shift.

[meadow85]

I do them once in awhile. T/O and V/O that is. Usually because the MD is busy with another patient and I feel my patient cannot wait until he/she is seen next. Just to get the ball rolling like someone already mentioned. Or the MD is off on another unit and cannot come right this moment or cannot be bothered to.