Giving meds in a timely manner

[debbiemig]

I would like to know if any of you have a problem getting your meds out in a timely manner. I have a rehab unit of 39 residents. They ALL have many meds. Most of them need to be premedicated for pain before going to Physical Therapy. My shift begins at 7am. The residents get breakfast at 8am. Physical Therapy begins right after breakfast. They are picked up from the dining room for the most part. We are not allowed to give meds in the dining room. Not even allowed to bring it to them if they are finished and are just chatting. We aren't allowed to interupt their" dining experience". ( I think the experience is ruined when the meal arrives. The food is terrible!). Now I've only had an hour from the time I arrived to get most of the meds out. It takes me until almost 11am if I'm not interuppted, which is rare. We are allowed an hour before the prescribed time and an hour after in order to get the meds out in a timely manner. Now, by 11 am, some of them are getting their 9 am meds. Then they may have meds due at 1 pm. that's 2 hrs until they may recieve them! My meds at noon are much less. If anyone has this problem, and they know what can be done to solve it, I would be ever so grateful. I've spoken to the DON, the administrator, the inservice director. They all agree that it's a problem, but don't have any solutions. The state is expected any day now and I am not going to be compliant.What do I do?

[Panka]

Ask your DON if you can rewrite the policy for what imes are scheduled for the meds, pass it by your medical director, and then go for it! Our nurses pass a heck of a lot of meds. We have a behavioral health, geriatric center and the nurses on one wing pass for 32 residents, including psychotropics, pain meds, and as with all end stage disease processes, antibiotics for repeat infections. We asked to rewrite the times to a.m., noon, pm, and hs med times. This keeps us in compliance with the state. We also pass all of the meds first to the ones who are difficult, the rest takes time, but is do-able.

Panka

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

You write meds for AM and PM without specific times??? We were told we can't even write a treatment that way...HAS to be a specific time

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

How's this for timing..I didn't get in to work until 5:15 pm. (they called me in...Dh works...got there when I can) our meds are normally done or almost finished by then..dinner is being served...Not one med or blood sugar was checked...and some of the diabetics were eating :uhoh21: I was barely familiar with these pts....by the time I was even getting to them it was time for the 8 and 9 meds! Yep...I had a fall, admit (with no orders/ chart info) and transfer to hospital and of course short staffed all before 8 pm!!

No one is on time every time

[Mandylpn]

That qualifies for the crappiest shift ever award!!!!!!!! :cheers: You are right, one thing goes wrong and you are -----ed!

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

That qualifies for the crappiest shift ever award!!!!!!!! :cheers: You are right, one thing goes wrong and you are -----ed!

Nope the night before was!!

[Dixiecup]

Who cares! just do the best you can. What are you? a martyr?

I tried to PM you about a previous post but it says you don't except PM's. Just wanted to say I love your attitude. You're in the real world which is rare.