IM Morphine

[CapeCodMermaid]

Do any of you use IM Morphine for routine pain control? We have a new doc and he's ordered IM Morphine for a resident. I asked why not MS Contin for long acting with MSIR or roxanol for break through. Apparently the resident requested IM . Very strange.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

Seriously? you saying that your average LTC doesn't have one pulse oximeter on the premises? What do you do if you have patients with COPD or who are on BP meds? Many of the vitals monitors these days can measure temp, pulse, O2 and BP....

LOL...sorry, I had to laugh. I agree that at the very least there should be one pulse ox in the facility. Let me correct that by saying at least one working pulse ox. We have one, but it doesn't always work or the batteries are dead...some of you may be or :eek:ing but you learn to treat the patient and not the number. Now that we are getting younger short term residents it it getting to be a necessity.

Get back to that one per building...one place I worked had one for the facility..200 beds, two floors, 4 units...good luck finding it or getting it when you need it. $$$$

[CompleteUnknown]

LOL...sorry, I had to laugh. I agree that at the very least there should be one pulse ox in the facility. Let me correct that by saying at least one working pulse ox. We have one, but it doesn't always work or the batteries are dead...some of you may be or :eek:ing but you learn to treat the patient and not the number. Now that we are getting younger short term residents it it getting to be a necessity.

Get back to that one per building...one place I worked had one for the facility..200 beds, two floors, 4 units...good luck finding it or getting it when you need it. $$$$

Same here michelle.... we have one pulse oximeter, and the same issues with finding it when you need it, finding batteries, trying to figure out why it's not working, etc etc. Quite a few things are like that in LTC!

[GHGoonette, BSN, RN]

LOL...sorry, I had to laugh. I agree that at the very least there should be one pulse ox in the facility. Let me correct that by saying at least one working pulse ox. We have one, but it doesn't always work or the batteries are dead...some of you may be or :eek:ing but you learn to treat the patient and not the number. Now that we are getting younger short term residents it it getting to be a necessity.

Get back to that one per building...one place I worked had one for the facility..200 beds, two floors, 4 units...good luck finding it or getting it when you need it. $$$$

Same here michelle.... we have one pulse oximeter, and the same issues with finding it when you need it, finding batteries, trying to figure out why it's not working, etc etc. Quite a few things are like that in LTC!

AAAARRRGGGHHHHH!!! Ok, yeah, I hear you I am like a hen with one chick when it comes to our monitors, lend one to another dept and it either comes back broken, or doesn't come back at all. We still have two Ohmeda pulse-ox monitors in perfect working condition...they are almost 20 years old The company bought new ones when we moved into our new premises, but they are simply not the same quality.

[Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN]

I've only seen our doctors order IM Morphine once or twice and it was for end of life pain control.

We usually use percocet or dilaudid for everyday pain control.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

Of course I have pulse oximeters but I don't have the staff to leave one on the resident and check every hour or so. Today he wanted a morphine drip or a PCA...yah....sure. Wheeling yourself around the building complaining about your pajamas and lack of cigarette without a wince or a guarding. The guy is med seeking ... pure and simple. ETOH, polysubstance abuse...doc wised up after speaking to him for 5 minutes. He has MS Contin with liquid morphine for breakthrough.

[debRN0417]

Good grief CCM. You certainly have all kinds....

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

LOL...yah....never a dull moment. Oh, and I had to call his parole officer today. The things we don't get told before we admit someone!