I am sure this subject has been covered here but it is a problem that continues to put
patients in jeopardy.
Just yesterday, I was working the 3-11 shift at a LTC facility. We do have a policy that nurses are not to be interrupted during the med pass unless there's an emergency. It's a policy that is easily overlooked. I counted eight times during my 8 PM med pass I was interrupted and out of those eight times I had five near-misses (or near-hits) meaning I caught the med error before the patients were harmed. It really bothered me that I almost gave the wrong meds to the wrong patient because my supervisor interrupted me to ask me if a patient is wearing a cervical collar (she could've checked this herself) or a family member is in a panic because her mother didn't eat all her dinner. The crazy thing about all this is that I went along and investigated these things while I was in the middle of pouring. Next meeting, I will bring this subject up. The last facility I worked we reported near-misses as well as med errors for quality assurance. I will also make this suggestion. Any other ideas?? Thanks in advanced.
Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
But my oh my did I catch it from a resident who had to have their "finnygin" at exactly 6pm, when I explained to her that I was attending to a code, she replied "I don't care if someone was dying, my "finnygin" is due at 6!"
Specializes in Orthopedic, LTC, STR, Med-Surg, Tele.
I counted eight times during my 8 PM med pass I was interrupted and out of those eight times I had five near-misses (or near-hits) meaning
I caught the med error before the patients were harmed. It really bothered me that I almost gave the wrong meds to the wrong patient because my supervisor interrupted me to ask me if a patient is wearing a cervical collar (she could've checked this herself) or a family member is in a panic because her mother didn't eat all her dinner. The crazy thing about all this is that I went along and investigated these things while I was in the middle of pouring.
Learn to say, "I will check on that when I have time, right now I am in the middle of my med pass". I also keep a pad of sticky notes for the CNAs to leave messages if people want PRN meds. People will interrupt you relentlessly, I find.
LOL, It is Phenergan, she just always called it her "Finnygin". Didn't care if the pt next door was dying as long as she got her "Finnygin" on time. There were some days I would be so busy, and having issue after issue, but I learned to just throw that "Finnygin" in a cup and run it to her room as I was running up and down the halls, so she wouldn't cause a uproar with the aids.
Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
So it IS her "cocktail"!. Too funny. I cared for an old COPDer who used to say," hun, turn off my oxy so I can have a ciggy" I wanted to scream" STOP the baby talk!"
Specializes in Trauma-Surgical, Case Management, Clinic.
I worked at a facility where the nurses wore orange vests (like a crossing guard) from the med room to the pts room to let others know not to interrupt you. People were fairly respectful of it, even the docs unless it was urgent. The only issue was some nurses would wear the vest even if they were not taking meds to a room just to avoid anyone stopping them.
Really it has come to this it is caused multi-tasking you have to be aware of where you are and what you are doing regardless of what is going on ; it seems like you could be a little assertive for yourself and inform the person that I will listen to your concern and soon as I finish with this client I will address that way you are not dropping something in the middle of med pass and you have address the issue and noted the concern. As for the the Charge nurse just reminder them of the policy and that the issue will be addressed as soon as you give the medication
I think it has come down to everybody wants everything right now and it is their right to have it now. A sad commentary on life in general. I work in acute care and it is no different than LTC. I find the phones that we have to carry with us at all times while on duty a big intrusion on the nurse and the pt she is caring for. Last week I was giving a pt IV lasix, sitting in his room as it took a while. My phone rang and another pt's family was on the line. I explained that I could not give much info as I was in another pt's room. The caller wanted to know could someone else help her about her mother- not an emergency. I told her that I would call her back in about 15- 30 mins when I completed other care I had to perform. Same with med passes, if you don't respond to the phone, you get in trouble. Answer the phone and lose track of what you are doing.
When I was an LPN at my LTC working med cart, if I was in the controlled section doing my 5 rights checks, I would flat out ignore you. It didn't matter if it was a patient, a doctor, a family member, or the administrator. People would get ****** at me, but I will tell them later that some of these drugs can drastically affect people in a negative way if done wrong. I wasn't having that on my license. The Board isn't going to care if someone interrupted you. Therefore, you interrupt me while I'm pulling meds, and you will be ignored for a min or two.
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ktwlpn, LPN
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