Giving Morphine

[jg24]

I guess I just need to vent. I work in a nursing home where I am responsible for 25 residents. Last night my RN supervisor walks through the door and (without looking at my residents) starts asking me when my 5 Hospice residents last had Morphine. I explained that I had not given any because they were all resting quietly. She told me to give them some anyway. I told her I would not because they were not in pain. She asked me how I knew that. I told her they were sleeping and showed no s/s of pain and if they did I would be glad to give it. She insisted that I give it anyway and I refused. I am not going to lie in the chart and say they showed signs of pain or SOB when they didn't. What do ya'll think?

[systoly]

I wasn't there so I cannot say what was the best thing to do

I find it interesting that either none of the 5 pt.s or all of the 5

pt.s needed morphine

we don't know what kind of morphine either

but i guess it would be prn sublingual or Roxanol rather than

a routine ms contin

in any case, it is sad that the super did not explain the rationale

and, OP, i would like to see you be a little more receptive

even when you're convinced you're right

pt.s can build up tolerance to morphine and may need more

tomorrow than they did today to get the same relieve

if you're ever unsure, call hospice

i know it may be 2AM, but that's their job and i never

met a hospice nurse who wouldn't go out of his way

to reduce a pt.'s pain

also, next time hospice visits, milk them for knowledge

if they ever visit on your shift

why not talk to your super about this and ask

hospice to schedule an inservice

you can never hear enough about it