Med Pass Question for Student

[CarliBeeHanson]

I am currently in nursing school and am learning about passing meds.

My instructor briefly told the class that for our pass off we need to pass meds. But we need to know which meds to put in separate cups (because they are more important).

How do you determine what meds need to be separated and are more important.

I was wondering if there was an easy way to know.

The only example she gave us was Lopressor. And Lopressor needs to be put in a separate cup when given to the pt.

Sorry if this is a stupid question! Thank you in advance!

[klone, MSN, RN]

Separate cup from what? The other meds? I've never heard of that, so I don't know what to tell you. Perhaps she's talking about meds that absolutely need to be taken, vs. PRN meds?

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

If I have a med with parameters I will either put it in a separate cup, or not pop it out of its packet until I have obtained the pulse or BP, or whatever.

And some patients have their own idiosyncrasies, where they want nursing to present their pills in separate little cups, sorted by whatever OCD compulsion they're a victim of.

But I've never heard of Lopressor *always* being put in a separate cup. That's just silly. It sounds like your instructor has been away from the bedside a bit too long.

[lmpal]

I take my meds out of their packages in front of the patient and immediately administer that Med it is almost Impossible to confuse meds and the patients have the right to know what we are giving then. And it's s great opportunity for med education!

[nrsang97, BSN, RN]

I would take all meds into the room, and open the packages in front of the patient. Why a separate cup for lopressor? Why not keep it in the package until you have checked BP and pulse and then open in front of the patient and give?

I was never taught to keep any certain meds in a separate cup.

[kcksk]

Maybe she means to give the meds first that are the most important. Sometimes it's difficult to get a lot of meds into some pts. I would give BP, lasix, any psych meds, etc and hold onto the colace, multivitamin, etc for last. I hate getting to the end and then they refuse to take anymore.

[NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN]

I was never taught during my LPN program or my current RN program to place meds in different cups based on priority. The only time that I've separated meds have been when crushing them to put down a GT or mix with applesauce due to a swallowing problem (and then there are some pills that cannot be cut or crushed) and this is because some meds aren't chemically compatible crushed and mixed together. When possible I don't open the page until in the patient room and review the meds with the patient prior to opening them so that if they are refused it can be returned instead of wasted. Never used separate cups for meds during a routine PO pill pass. There's a rationale for this that I'm missing or something.

[wanderlustnurse88, RN]

Maybe she means to give the meds first that are the most important. Sometimes it's difficult to get a lot of meds into some pts. I would give BP, lasix, any psych meds, etc and hold onto the colace, multivitamin, etc for last. I hate getting to the end and then they refuse to take anymore.

This is what I do in LTC if I think the pt won't take all the meds. I give the most important ones first. Pain meds, BP meds, heart meds, blood thinners etc and then the laxatives and vitamins.