Assignment ? that I'm not sure of answer...

[ambgregval]

Hi, I'm having a hard time finding this in my book, would love some help... question is

1) Within 1 hour after administering the medications ordered following her return to her room, Rose complains of nausea and begins to vomit. If you are sure she has vomited the meds you just administered, what should you do?

By the way, these are oral meds. I'm thinking that if it's within 1 hour, that no, you wouldn't readminister since they're normally absorbed in 30 minutes. But, the question is not real clear, it says "just administered", so would you give the meds again? Thanks for any help!

[RNShenanigator]

No, you would not give the meds to her again.

[Natingale, EdD, RN]

call the MD

[Hooolia]

I would say you're right, the meds have been administered for up to an hour (within the hour could mean 30 minutes or 59 minutes which would make a big difference), so I would definately not re-administer the meds until I recieve an ok from a physician or pharmacist.

[houndnurse]

Absolutely not. You have no idea what has been absorbed. I wouldn't call the dr. for one episode of vomiting. Look to see if they have standing orders for something for nausea or vomiting. It could have been the medications were given on an empty stomach or just something they ate.

[JBudd, MSN]

The only way you can be sure the meds were vomited out is to identify the pills in the emesis, the complete pill and all of them.

Otherwise, you assume they've been absorbed enough that you would not repeat meds. Usually you only lose about a third of the stomach contents with one episode of vomiting.

[locolorenzo22, BSN, RN]

you do NOT regive meds unless ok'd by a doc....can't be sure how much medication that patient got. Also, give something for N/V if ordered....else, attempt to have patient take next meds with crackers or bread or meals....

[sh1901]

I would consult with the pharmacist first to see if the meds would have been adequately absorbed and if the pharmacist said that they were not or felt that this was a call for the MD, I would page the MD and ask...especially since you can not administer the medication without the physician order anyway.