M.D. Orders (pediatric HH) off the prescription bottle?

[RNcourage]

I'm doing RN 1:1 care, pediatric, and my supervisor told me that the prescription botttle is

as good as Dr. orders for new meds! She says I should only worry about M.D. orders for

discontinued meds! Since I am overnight shift I can't call for orders, I wrote a note to the

daytime RN to get it done and got chewed out for it because I was "telling the nurse what

to do and that's not my job." I worked in surgery for 7 mos. and then tele at a hospital,

the hospital dumped almost all the new grads they overhired 90 days later, I was one of

the unfortunates.

2 days later got a job in HH, and what I learned in the clinical setting "does not apply,"

says supervisor (a RN case mgr). I am sad about not getting into a new hospital job

but...

enjoying the peds care-- but don't want my license to be compromised because I am

expected to assume the new meds (according to the mom of the patient) are correct

dosage, etc.

As RNs we all know pediatric dosage is according to weight, and since these patients are senitive to changes in dosage levels, I think I should be patted on the back for being diligent. I'm in CA, please help!

[SDALPN]

Sounds like PDN instead of home health. Yes, we can use the prescription bottle to write an order. Some places require the order to then be sent to the Dr to sign. And yes, agencies will chew you out for telling another nurse the correct way of doing something. Very typical.

[SDALPN]

Oh, and always check with the Dr if you feel that the dosage is wrong. I've found errors by the Dr before and called to get it straightened out.

[DeniseGreco]

RX bottles are an accepted form of getting orders in home health care , but you must put it into the patients chart to ensure the med list is accurate. when you see a new RX write it on an order form stating PER RX in the home, date and MD who ordered it. that way its in the chart and you dont have to ask another nurse to do anything. Every thing must have an order at home or in a facility that never changes!!