Here goes nothing

Published

Specializes in student; help!.

I'm now qualified to pass meds. TERRIFIED. I get my pt assigned on Wednesday, shift on Thursday. Eeep! :eek:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PICU/NICU/ER.

Awesome! You'll do great!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Good luck! You will do great and if ever in doubt always ask for a second or even third opinion!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

good luck!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

That's awesome!!! :D You'll be fine. Check, check, check. ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Don't you have to check with your instructor before you pass meds? I know in my program, you get everything all set up, then you have to show your instructor to have them check that you've got it all correct before you can actually give them...this happens every time from the time you start passing meds in your 2nd semester to your very last clinical day 4th semester.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Don't you have to check with your instructor before you pass meds? I know in my program, you get everything all set up, then you have to show your instructor to have them check that you've got it all correct before you can actually give them...this happens every time from the time you start passing meds in your 2nd semester to your very last clinical day 4th semester.

This ^

In my program, we go WITH our instructors to get the meds out of pyxis or whatever the machine is on the floor in the hospital. My first time, I read off what meds my patient had, and my instructor went through how to use the machine, each little button etc. She "quizzed" me on each med - why is my pt on it, what does it do, recommended dose, is the dose ordered safe? all that sort of stuff. Then she showed me how to scan in the pt, how to scan the meds, how to enter dosages when needed, how to document when meds are not given, etc.

We did that 2 times, then she just came in with me, plugged in her password for the machine, and I did it on my own - I had to say ok so now I'm typing in pts name, sorting meds by time: 0800. this med is xxxx and it does xxxx. That's how it was for the rest of the clinical rotation. Each instructor is different, though.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Make sure to look up the medication BEFORE giving it ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

We have to get the meds from the floor nurse, as neither the instructor nor the students have a password to the meds. Once we have the meds, we have to go throught the rights and checks of the meds. Then, if it's the first time you've given a medication by that route, an injection for example, the instructor goes in to supervise, if you've done it before, then you're good to go. (Actually, there was a situation where the instructor had to be with a student, and the charge nurse supervised another student giving meds, talk about pressure!) Anyway, then we chart that meds were given, etc.

A few tips:

Look up meds, but also have a general understanding of the different classes of meds and some general side effects. For example, know how the class of antihypertensives work and some side effects of them.

And, assess the patient before going to the nurse, it saves time. Get the HR, pain level, listen to bowel sounds, etc. before even saying "I'm ready," because you're gonna have to know anyway. This step takes just a few minutes, but lets you get your head together, and helps you to look more professional ;)

Anyway, tell us how you did, okay!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

At my school we learned med adm but did not do it in clinical as of yet. I am very nervous about giving meds:uhoh3:

Good Luck to you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

Once your hands stop shaking you know you are gonna do fine.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
Don't you have to check with your instructor before you pass meds? I know in my program, you get everything all set up, then you have to show your instructor to have them check that you've got it all correct before you can actually give them...this happens every time from the time you start passing meds in your 2nd semester to your very last clinical day 4th semester.

In my program we had to do a med pass in skills lab, when we passed that than we were checked off to pass meds in the hospital. In the hospital we couldn't pass meds without our Co-nurse or clinical instructor. It's that way for legality reasons until we graduate. I took the posters message to mean that she passed whatever skills test they needed to be allowed to pass meds in clinicals.

We just did skills check off for IV Push meds, I passed, now I am able to do Push IV Meds in the hospital. I will still need someone with me when doing it but until we pass that in skills lab we are not even allowed to do it with someone in the hospital.

Hopefully that makes sense.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion