Can you recommend a medication?

[russianbear]

I'm new, please do not flame me. The other night my patient was complaining of burning sensation around th mouth? Itching eyes, tingling. Her face was slightly more puffy than when she was admitted several hours before. I called the physician and told him and asked if Benadryl would perhaps be helpful. He said he would be in in a few hours and address it. Afterwards the other nurses ripped me a new orifice saying you never suggest anything to doctors, we do not diagnose, etc. I wasn't practicing medicine, I was merely asking if that would be helpful. Thoughts?

[nursel56]

Afterwards the other nurses ripped me a new orifice saying you never suggest anything to doctors, we do not diagnose, etc. I wasn't practicing medicine, I was merely asking if that would be helpful. Thoughts?

All of them ripped you a new one? They often talk about Doctors scolding them? Sounds like Stepford Nurses with way too much time on their hands.

Did he order the Benadryl?

[SororAKS, ADN, RN]

Absolutely. It depends on the doc but I've never had anyone giving me orders have an issue with it.

[Chaserr]

Well if she had itchy eyes and a puffy face obviously it could be a sign of an allergic reaction in which you are right to suggest benedryl because it shows your thought process and what you're worried about.

I work in a neurosurgical ICU and I suggest medications all. the. time. the docs have the discretion to take my suggestion or to leave it, either way I covered my ass and put a note in the chart saying I notified the doctor of the observed symptoms. Its the safest practice for yourself and the patient.

In your scenario I would have done exactly that then monitor the PT very closely and if anything worsened even by the slightest bit i'd be back on the phone calling the doc.

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

It's better to suggest what you want to fix it. I propose it as a question. "What about tylenol?" "What about ibuprofen?" "Do you think this?" "Do you think that?" I also will usually lead in with some info first. "Kid hasn't had motrin or tylenol since 3 pm and it's 1 am now. Fever's 39.5."

[skitch885]

At my facility, we are SUPPOSED to recommend. part of our communication system includes a recommendation by the nurse. You aren't practicing medicine, but we are also experts. We know the patients pretty well too, so sometimes what the MD's first recommendation would be is contraindicated. Especially when on nights, I include a recommendation with each call. Ex: "45y M with pmh constipation, c/o abd pain, LBM 1/18. Suppository? Success in past."