I don't know if anyone else will understand my problem or not.
In our LTC facility, we have some patients on PRN Vicodin or Percocet. We have one nurse who trys her darndest to get these things dc'd - she will say that 'they don't need that!'
I understand the problems of addiction, but my thought is - if they're toward the end of their life, why shouldn't they have pain relief?! Tylenol just doesn't do it for some of them.
And (don't hate me) but so what if they DO become addicted? It's not like they'll be standing on the street corner trying to buy it illegally. We have one old guy who asks for a Vicodin every nite at bedtime - that's the only time he takes it - he's unable to move around on his own because of an old hip fracture.
I don't believe in handing it out like candy, but don't they have the same right to pain relief that a hospital pt. has?
We were always taugh pain is what the pts says it is! I firmly go by that. I do see an exceeded amt of narcotics ordered, if they don't take them then try to get them d/c. Some like to take vicoden to sleep where I work. We have a couple of retired RN's at our LTC facility and boy do they like there vicoden! But your right there not gonna be on the street corner trying to buy drugs so if they get addicted, at least they are comfortable in the dying process. I wouldn't want to be in pain. They shouldn't have to be either.
NoWaNrN, ASN, RN
219 Posts
We were always taugh pain is what the pts says it is! I firmly go by that. I do see an exceeded amt of narcotics ordered, if they don't take them then try to get them d/c. Some like to take vicoden to sleep where I work. We have a couple of retired RN's at our LTC facility and boy do they like there vicoden! But your right there not gonna be on the street corner trying to buy drugs so if they get addicted, at least they are comfortable in the dying process. I wouldn't want to be in pain. They shouldn't have to be either.