Had enough of the CMS 30 minute rule?

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Specializes in Acute Care.

If so, the Institute for Safe Medication Practices has written a survey:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/30mr

that they plan to submit to CMS as evidence for the unsafe practices nurses must often engage in to comply with this (IMHO) crazy rule (all medications must be given within 30 minutes of their schedualed times).

Have a voice!

Take this survey!

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Specializes in Legal, Ortho, Rehab.

I took it, kudos for bringing this up! Between giving a senna on time or assisting a patient in acute distress...well you know what's gonna win...

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If so, the Institute for Safe Medication Practices has written a survey:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/30mr

that they plan to submit to CMS as evidence for the unsafe practices nurses must often engage in to comply with this (IMHO) crazy rule (all medications must be given within 30 minutes of their schedualed times).

Have a voice!

Take this survey!

How do we know this survey is legitimate? Can you provide a link from the ISMP website, please?

Thanks.

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Specializes in Acute Care.

It's an e-mailed newsletter that is usually distributed by hospital pharmacies or received by individual nurses, but here is the link directly from the ISMP website (to receive the newsletter):

http://www.ismp.org/Newsletters/nursing/default.asp

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Specializes in Acute Care.

I will try to find a direct link or scan my copy of the newsletter when I get home.

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Specializes in Acute Care.

http://www.ismp.org/newsletters/nursing/Issues/NurseAdviseERR201007.pdf

Here we go!

Can't see the "edit" button on the hospital browser, sorry about triple posts!

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Thank you for posting this. Every time some one is 'late' with a meds requires a note, and "couldn't get to the med cart in time because thee was a line" just doesn't cut it.

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The 30 minute rule is just stupid. Especially since the times picked are arbitrary. "Q day" means "once a day," not "at 8am."

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Specializes in Med/surg, rural CCU.

I don't run into this problem. We have the ability to change times on our electronic system. If something is ordered at bedtime... we can change it to a convenient time. Once a day, BID, etc... we just change it.

I took a job elsewhere for awhile, and was shocked at all the incident reports due to this silly rule. We had no authority to change times, even if the pt insisted they take them a different time at home. It was rediculous.

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Specializes in cardiovascular.

This new rule was evidently made by someone who doesn't pass medications in the hospital.

All it takes is one patient/family member who has medications that changed or a new medication where they need teaching and you will never get any of your medications passed on time.

And of course if you have a patient who develops distress or needs something you have to call the doctor for immediately you won't get the meds passed on time there either.

Worse yet is that it makes nurses consider unsafe medication dispensing practices to avoid negative feedback from management thereby increasing the odds of medication errors.

I wonder if 'they' think nurses fail to pass meds on time out of boredom? Seriously, I'm busy at work, if a med is late something or someone happened.

Andie

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