LTC Falls

[Kiara Butler]

If you have a patient who falls and you assess them and do vital signs and everything initially checks out so you place them in bed for continuous observation. If the patient expresses they have a head ache during one of your neuro checks is it okay to give Tylenol and follow up with the doctor or is it best not to give medications and only apply something like a cold rag until you get doctor's orders?

[Davey Do]

Kiara Butler said:

If the patient expresses they have a head ache during one of your neuro checks is it okay to give Tylenol and follow up with the doctor or is it best not to give medications and only apply something like a cold rag until you get doctor's orders?

Give only those meds which are ordered by the PCP and perform noninvasive comfort measures.

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

If the patient already has a PRN for tylenol that could be given. If they don't already have PRN orders then you don't have a choice but to wait until you have the orders. In the case of neuro checks, tylenol is not going to change your neurological exam, but any sedating medications, even if the patient already has PRN orders, should definitely not be given. In the event of a new headache after a fall I would anticipate the patient would be sent out for evaluation in an emergency department.