Medication management in long term care/ assisted living

[XcrMat]

I have just started a new position in a long-term care/ assisted living facility. I am a new grad BSN, RN and searched for hospital jobs for a while, but found it was easier to find a LTC facility that was ok with hiring a new grad. I do have a couple years of hospital experience as an LPN.

During my first shift I found many things different in LTC than what I was used to in a hospital or large medical center. One thing in particular was the methods of medication administration. All of the patients' medications are sheets stored in a cart in bins. It just seamed very messy and potentially dangerous to me. I have always worked at a place with automated medication systems (pyxis). I'm wondering what other nurse's experiences have been with medications administration systems in long-term care facilities. Are there other places that use pyxis? It just seams to me like that would be safer and prevent medication errors. Why wouldn't a LTC facility want to use a safer method? Is this strictly related to cost?

[VANurse2010]

It's been punch cards at every LTC/SNF I've worked at and am aware of in my area. Pyxis/automatic dispensing cabinet in LTC is NOT going to happen. Check out Medicaid reimbursement for LTC to see why.

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Moved to the LTC forum

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

Administring medications to 30-40 LTC residents from a Pyxis would be a nightmare. It would actually be very unsafe to try and do so. Since nurses in LTC have so many residents to pass meds to, they need to be mobile, not going back and forth from the Pyxis.

Also, remember that LTC facilities are reimbursed way, way less than hospitals. So having a Pyxis for each nurse would be too expensive. And trying to have multiple nurses do a med pass from one Pyxis would be an absolute scene from the 10th Circle of Hell.

So basically, it's a matter of logistics and money.

[chrisrn24]

Administring medications to 30-40 LTC residents from a Pyxis would be a nightmare. It would actually be very unsafe to try and do so. Since nurses in LTC have so many residents to pass meds to, they need to be mobile, not going back and forth from the Pyxis.

Also, remember that LTC facilities are reimbursed way, way less than hospitals. So having a Pyxis for each nurse would be too expensive. And trying to have multiple nurses do a med pass from one Pyxis would be an absolute scene from the 10th Circle of Hell.

So basically, it's a matter of logistics and money.

Yep this. It would be a nightmare. I need my cart!