liquid narcs

MPHkatie · Jan 9, 2003

with liquid methadone. and actually anything liquid that we don't use the entire bottle of...

mark the bottle with a line and a date and time and initial each time you take out with the actual amt that is suppsoed to bei n there. Sometimes we also use tape to mark it. It is extremely difficult to get an accurate count on those thick liquids.

NicuGal, MSN, RN · Jan 9, 2003

We usually just kinda wing it and see if it looks close...it it looks way off then we do a corrected count on the sheet.

Next month they are going to unit dosing on narcs too...we will get prefilled syringes.

Allison S. · Jan 9, 2003

We just wing it, and make the adjustment when it is clearly wrong, e.g. when the liquid is at a line, or when the amount seems to be clearly wrong -- 5 ccs or so. I guess we just have to trust each other.

In peds, we can use some extremely small doses and tracking them against the bottle's increments is not possible.

I would welcome unit dosing, but we are having enough trouble getting our pharmacy to deliver boxes of our stock meds, let alone patient-specific stuff. Yikes!

lynn1967 · Jan 9, 2003

That is how we do it at our LTC facility. We don't actually measure them. We just wing it and guestimate. I mean in all reality, if it is measuring accurately, how do you know that someone didn't water it down? (just a suggestion???) I think you would have to be pretty desperate to be taking liquid roxinal. We have a guy that gets B&O supps. I always say if you are that desperate for a high to steal them, more power to you!!!! Just joking, we are all pretty trustworthy.

sanakruz, ADN · Jan 9, 2003

WOW!

I'm cheered to see they still make those B+O supps; really help hospice clients.

Anyway My personal opinion is this:the DEA has no frigging place at the bedside.

My professional opinion is this: Scream and yell until you get unit doses. Dont wing trust no one and present it to the managment as a liability/saftey issue and therefore action needed yesterday.