Updated: Mar 4, 2020 Published Oct 4, 2004
Dinith88
720 Posts
Are any of you guilty of giving a 'nurses dose'?
Meaning do you ever give a 'smidge' more drug than the md orders?
As in,
Dr orders 1mg ativan iv, but there're 2mg in the vial (and pt is whacked out)...so you give 2
Or, pt in respiratory distress..doc wants 40 of lasix...you give 60..
Or, 1mg haldol(once again, pt is whacked out)...you give 5 (ouch!) ..
Or.. you catch my drift...
Is this a fairly common 'phenomenon', or do the majority of us stick to the straight and narrow?
Just curious....
VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN
22 Articles; 9,996 Posts
Huh-uh.......it's the straight-and-narrow for me. If I think the pt. needs more medication than the order calls for, I turf it right back to the doc who ordered it and get the OK for an increase. It's not, of course, that I'm not smart enough to make such a judgment......just that I'm not licensed to make it!!
NeuroICURN
377 Posts
mjlrn97 said:Huh-uh.......it's the straight-and-narrow for me. If I think the pt. needs more medication than the order calls for, I turf it right back to the doc who ordered it and get the OK for an increase. It's not, of course, that I'm not smart enough to make such a judgment......just that I'm not licensed to make it!!
AMEN to that! Besides, almost all of the docs that I work with are more than willing to go along with anything we suggest....they know we know our stuff.
ERRN1028
55 Posts
i am with the straight and narrow crew, i work in an all pedi-icu, kg based.
UCLARN
40 Posts
When I worked as a staff nurse, that would be a big NO! I have NEVER heard of a "nurse dose." Maybe because I worked in peds. Either way, don't you think it's a tad unethical and not to mention illegal.
Dinith88 said:Are any of you guilty of giving a 'nurses dose'?Meaning do you ever give a 'smidge' more drug than the md orders?As in,Dr orders 1mg ativan iv, but there're 2mg in the vial (and pt is whacked out)...so you give 2Or, pt in respiratory distress..doc wants 40 of lasix...you give 60..Or, 1mg haldol(once again, pt is whacked out)...you give 5 (ouch!) ..Or.. you catch my drift...Is this a fairly common 'phenomenon', or do the majority of us stick to the straight and narrow? Just curious....
allele, LPN
247 Posts
I only give what's ordered, ask for more if I need it. :)
moonchild20002000
288 Posts
I only give what is ordered. If I have a question about the dose I call the MD.
I really am not aware of any of the nurses I work with giving a "nurse dose".
TXMomRN
16 Posts
Not on the job.....
SmilingBluEyes
20,964 Posts
wow this is a new one to me....
I am naive I guess.
eak16
184 Posts
Think of the guilt you would feel if that "nurse dose" of ativan caused respiratory depression or worse. Forget guilt, think of the liability! If I remember right, my hospitals insurance only covers me if I am working within my scope of practice. If there was a problem, you would have two choices, 1) LIE about it (baaaaaad!) or 2) admit you were working outside your scope of practice and suffer the (probably very serious) consequences.
hypnotic_nurse
627 Posts
Never heard of it nor considered it. EEK!
CRNAsoon
178 Posts
I've never done it but have seen it done many times.