Published
We only use PCA pumps for conscious patients who are able to press the button--our cancer patients are mostly inhouse hospice on a continual pain drip--unable to press for relief.
Most, if not all, PCA pumps can be programmed to deliver continuous flow at a rate the MD determines. This would be so much safer and possibly more cost effective than what your facility is doing.
It's not only tempatation its a safety issue more than anything. I know myself I would not be comfortable setting narcotics such as these on a regular pump. I have had confused pts change settings, family members try to silence alarms, etc. I've always worked primarily in critical care units and all our narcotics per drips were always on PCA with a continous drip setting. Do they not have enough PCA pumps or not willing to obtain them? Again it's more of a safety issue for me.
ivy2009
5 Posts
The real question is in our hospital we have PCA pumps for post-ops to press. On my floor --one third of our patients are cancer patients --they are on either a morphine drip or dilaudid drip on a pump --it is not locked on the pump --its just a regular IV pump.--we are noticing at the end of the 100cc bag is running out too soon for the rate it is running--so?? they are wondering if someone is taking some of the medication out of the bag. Family could, employees ..... what do you nurses have in your hospitals for pumps that could prevent this possible crime.