LTC has changed-How do you give out 5pm meds now?

artsmom, BSN, LPN · Sep 30, 2012

We have to bring them into their rooms from wherever they are.

Blackcat99 · Sep 30, 2012

Wow. So we are all expected to search the whole facility for each resident and then take that resident to his room in order to do a medication. Sounds pretty time consuming to have to track down each person. OK. Thanks for letting me know how you do it.

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Sep 30, 2012

We are not allowed to give meds while the patient is eating in the dining room. Since I am on the same floor/unit all the time, I know which of my residents are ones who eat in the dining room. I make sure I give them their meds first. (if its a scheduled 5pm med I have between 4 and 6p to give it to them). I start my 5pm pass at 4pm and as I said, I get the ones who go to the dining room first, then the ones who eat in their rooms.

Blood glucose checks are to be done in a private area. That can be anywhere that no one else is and in an area that the patient can be shielded from view if someone does enter the area. We have a quite/tv room directly across from the nurses station where the residents tend to gather as well as the shower/tub room directly across from that. I either bring my residents in either room and do the checks there.

The team I work with are really good with asking me prior to taking a resident into the dining room if I need to give them meds or not. So i can usually get them all done before they enter the room.

We are allowed to give meds in the hallway, as they wait for the elevator, etc as long as we ask and obtain their permission to do so. We cannot just tell them Mrs. Jones here are your meds. We have to quietly ask. "Mrs Jones, is it ok if I give you your medication here or would you rather go into a more private area."

Blackcat99 · Sep 30, 2012

Thanks. I am new to this facility and they have 5 different units of patients. They keep sending me to different units every day so I can't figure out who is who or what the patient's normal routine schedule is for now. I hope they will eventually put me on one permanent unit so I can learn who is who and what room they are in.

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Sep 30, 2012

Could you ask the nursing assistants who eats in the dining room at the beginning of the shift...that way you can plan your time on who needs to get their meds first.

wyogypsy, RN · Sep 30, 2012

More rules made up by people that don't work the floor every day. I can understand not interrupting their meal for meds, as that should be an enjoyable, social time for them. But on the way to and from? For goodness sakes, nobody knows what kind of meds they are taking, nobody cares. After all, don't they all take meds of one kind or another? And btw, make sure that while you are taking residents to and from their rooms so they can have their meds, that you answer the blasted phone that rings 200 times between 5 and 7 and the receptionist goes home at 5. Make sure you answer it promptly now! I absolutely love long term care, and my residents are everything to me. I work hard all day to make sure they are not in pain, not anxious, that they are as in good of health as possible, that they are not lonely, etc. But there are times the rules and regulations make it a very difficult place to work.

Blackcat99 · Sep 30, 2012

Isn't that the truth!!!! If you go and get a patient and take them to their room you run the risk of "being spotted" by others who will demand something right now. The phones? I take my med cart as far away from the phones as I possibly can." Oh darn, I'm too far away from the phones to answer". Oh yes, be sure you answer the phone promptly now each and every time lol. :roflmao:

AngelRN27 · Oct 4, 2012

At my facility we are allowed to give meds in the dining room is they are PO. Nothing invasive can done though, so no sub-q's, IM's, finger sticks, or even BP's allowed.

I do all my diabetics first and rarely miss any of them before they are moved to the dining room. If they are, I wheel them back to their room after already having their meds ready, do anything I have to do such as a finger stick or BP, then give meds and return to dining room... I haven't really had any issues thus far...

Blackcat99 · Oct 4, 2012

I am exhausted working in LTC. The constant interruptions etc etc etc. At this LTC, we have to call the doctor each time a patient refuses their meds!!!!!! That sure is a time waster. I have been getting most of my diabetics done OK. I am curious if all LTC'S have to call the doctor each time a patient refuses a med or is this just this LTC's facility?????

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Oct 4, 2012

My facility policy is to update doc on all refused or held meds (oh as well at the patients POA, guardian etc). We had one patient who was always refusing the same meds, family finally just said to keep a list of the meds refused and the day/times and give them a call at the end of the week. LOL

artsmom, BSN, LPN · Oct 4, 2012

I am exhausted working in LTC. The constant interruptions etc etc etc. At this LTC, we have to call the doctor each time a patient refuses their meds!!!!!! That sure is a time waster. I have been getting most of my diabetics done OK. I am curious if all LTC'S have to call the doctor each time a patient refuses a med or is this just this LTC's facility?????

Every time they refuse is a bit much. Our policy is if they refuse a med more than 3x we call and let the doctor know. Like we don't have enough to do, now call the doctor when Betty Boop refuses her colace because she has had diarrhea all day.