Hospice Nurses who work in an ALF

[Carla25]

I just accepted a new position as an RN case manager for hospice in an ALF setting. All my patients are residents of the ALF. I understand it is my responsibility to keep up with my patients medications. I stepped into this position and it has been very unorganized from the start. I am trying to stay positive and keep up. Also there is a new LPN who manages the whole ALF we have built a great working relationship and communicate very effectively. She is a little frustrated as well as I am because medications seem to be an issue here. So I have never had hospice experience or ALF experience before. We have been communicating about possibly implementing some type of MAR audits for the med techs to do on night shift. Make sure the meds have been transcribed correctly, etc.

Can anyone chime in as to what your facility does or how you would handle this?

I know every facility has different policies but any input would be appreciated.

[idobelieve]

Hello Carla, I am an RN Case Manager for a hospice company. I have residents in ALF and SNF. Med audits are good to do but your concern is the hospice patient. I would have the med techs to give me a copy of all the hospice patients mar so that you can make sure that in your system it matches what meds the patient is receiving while in the ALF. Check the hospice patients physician orders on a daily bases to stay abreast on new meds being added and meds being discontinued and this way you can inform your pharmacy that your hospice company use what meds are discontinued. This is a starting point and I am new to hospice also but I truly love my job. I hope this helped.