Meds at bedside

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2003

I don't know of any articles, but what about reviewing or stating your facilities Policy for med administration?

MandyInMS · Mar 31, 2003

Never leave meds at beside...kindly tell the pt. you will bring them back when ready for them..if this is an option..aka..sleeping pill..ect...If they are left you never KNOW if they are actually taken.You can't chart a med as given if you didn't see it..it could be flushed down the toilet...or even stock-piled by the pt....toooo dangerous!!!

Sleepyeyes · Mar 31, 2003

Are you kidding? or is the threat of loss of licensure not enough?

I have personally found cardiac meds at someone's bedside a full 6 hours after they "promised" the nurse they'd take them.

Also have found Ativan 1 mg.

Can you imagine if some confused patient or a visiting child wandered in and took some?? Or if the dose was taken just before another dose, thereby inadvertantly doubling the doses?

This is a med error, plain and simple.

MishlB · Mar 31, 2003

Didn't think this was common practice anywhere!!! I always stay until they have taken them, or if they refuse I take them away and ask later. How do you know they are taking them......?

CraftyLPN · Mar 31, 2003

Never never have I left meds by the bedside!!! I don't care if the pt is coherent or not...I was accused of contributing to this "practice " @ a LTC...and I looked straight in my super's face and asked,"WHAT?!Do you think I'm stupid? Catch the ones who r doing this...becuz it's not me!" and proceedee to walk away...........enuff said.

gwenith, BSN, RN · Apr 1, 2003

I know that I am one a few who do this as the patients are always surprised when I tell them that I ain't leaving until I see a swallow! I work in a CCU/ICU unit that is ccu one side and ICU the other side and am EXTERMELY aware that you must follow protocols EXACTLY especially when going form a one to one nursing ratio where is is less imperaative to check ID before every MED as you are at the same bed all shift to higher ratio where some patients may be confused.

Paprikat · Apr 1, 2003

Oh, God....if I had a nickel for everytime a res. c/o "you are the only one...you are so unreasonable...all the other's do it...." I never leave at the bedside and I don't care what the res. think about me.....my boss backs me up on this, too.

Disablednurse · Apr 1, 2003

In LTC, if a resident is deemed coherent and is able to prepare the meds themselves, they can keep meds in a locked place at their bedside. No controlled meds though. However the resident must be able to use the key to unlock the lock and get the meds themselves. Also must be able to remember to tell the nurse that they have taken the meds. This must be care planned and must be documented in the nurses notes.

montroyal · Apr 1, 2003

Call your BON now! If you leave meds at a bedside and chart the meds were given, it could be considered false documentation. Bye, bye liscence.

Brian, ASN, RN · Apr 1, 2003

FYI, I just moved this thread from the humor forum to the general nursing forum.

OBNURSEHEATHER · Apr 1, 2003

Oy.... I always make sure the pt. takes their meds in front of me. Room full of visitors, chaos everywhere... "can I just set these Percocet here and take them later?" Ummm... NO.

Your hospital will probably already have a policy in place about this, search for it.

Good luck!