Liquids are driving me crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

morte, LPN, LVN · Oct 28, 2009

what kind of liquids, and how are they being measured?

deedee1245 · Oct 29, 2009

Cough meds, most are 2.5 to 5ml's at a time, q4-6 hrs, PRN

morte, LPN, LVN · Oct 29, 2009

Cough meds, most are 2.5 to 5ml's at a time, q4-6 hrs, PRN

anything with volumes that small should have despensor caps and oral syringes......i assume you are using the plastic med cups? these are not accurate enough for what you are measuring and too "open to interpretation" of the user.....good luck

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 29, 2009

To draw up small amounts of liquid medication (less than 10cc), I'll draw it up in a 10cc syringe and drop the rest back into the bottle. For example, I had a patient who received 6cc of Dilantin twice daily. I'd draw 6cc up into a syringe, inject it into a medication cup, and give it to her. In my opinion, this is the most accurate way to administer small doses of liquids.

The liquid Ativan and Morphine usually come with droppers.

pumpkinutter · Oct 29, 2009

I would physically empty out the bottle in a sterile cup and measure it, have a second nurse to witness it and then put a tape label on the side of the bottle and draw a mark at the known mls left in bottle then date time and label the mark.. I have had to do this before with a codeine syrup before in a SNF... I have also done this in home health where I suspected mom of taking swigs here and there from the clients bottle of valium...hope this helps I know its nitnoid but it is your license and I would imagine that you had as much fun in nursing school as most of us did:)) be friendly :))