Medication Organization

[stacyns02]

Help needed! I currently have my students' PRN meds organized on shelves (has a sliding plexiglass that I am able to lock), alphabetized. It is driving me crazy because it is impossible to prevent it from looking like a disaster area. I am looking for a creative way to keep these meds organized neatly. Any ideas are welcome, thank you!

[Eleven011]

I have 2 lockable wall cabinets, one for daily meds, organized by AM/Noon/Aft and looks pretty good. My PRN cabinet is pretty much as yours. I don' t even attempt alphabetizing, because I fit them in where I can - with all the different sized bottles/boxes/etc, its like medicine jenga in there. Mine are not clear, though, so that helps hid the chaos a bit.

[Supernrse01, BSN]

I use something like this:

It hangs on the inside of my locked medicine closet. The names are easily visible and each student's medicine has it's own pocket! The pockets are big enough for those students who have multiple methods of treatment, like Benadryl and Epi.

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

I have mine in an upper kitchen style wall cabinet. WAY too small, I have no space. I have one more year until we have our forever home, so I am not going to fight it, then I get my own space I can organize the way I want. I have been looking at lockable med cabinets that are only a few inches deep so things are right at the front. I have stock meds as my orders are protocol based, so this limits the amount I have. Also thinking of doing an Epi-pen like locker for prn inhalers, quick access. Again, I only have around 4-5 inhalers.

[Supernrse01, BSN]

For my non-rescue meds, like the ADHD meds or the PRNs, I use a plastic container that resembles a silverware organizer. I use this at the elementary level in my big medication closet. It lets me divide the medications into 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade, and they are placed in ABC order by student name. I've done this for the past 6 years and it has worked great! My Middle School and High Schools use medicine cabinets and each grade gets a certain shelf. IT's easier in these schools because I don't have as many meds.

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

my prns are in a big locker sorted in 3 boxes a-f g-n o-z style. everyone in there gets their own baggie and it takes me a moment to fish around to find the right one. I can't say i love this system, but i don't have room for anything else right now. My bigger issue is my epipens which are in a big bag on my counter so they're accessible, but i have so many of them this year that it looks so sloppy. i hate it.

[Mango Juice]

I have shoe box sized tupperware-like containers for each grade level for my PRNs. I keep them stacked in a locked cabinet. It is pretty easy to find the ones I need that way. I keep my daily medications in a locked drawer that I have organized by grade level in empty tissue boxes. This works well for me, but I am fortunate enough to have lots of storage. I like Supernrse01's idea!!!

[OldDude]

I've been using lockable wall cabinets for 14 years. My attempt at organizing my prns has failed year after year until I've given up to accepting they are a just gonna be a mess. But there are some really good ideas here, if you're into that kind of stuff.

[zombieghoast]

I have an actual old fashion med cart in my office.

[AdobeRN]

I have a tall closet/cabinet with 5 shelves - one shelf contains the PRNs - My PRNs are in baskets - I have 5 baskets A-F, G-m...etc I gave up keeping them nicely organized long ago. My inhalers, Epi's and Neb stuff all get there own shelf in this tall cabinet. My daily meds are kept in a locked cabinet in order of administration.

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

I have an actual old fashion med cart in my office.

I have 2 of those at home. I may use them. Hmmm... thanks for the idea.

[stacyns02]

These are awesome ideas, thank you! By the end of the year it just absolutely drives me crazy how messy it gets.