Medication Routine

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Specializes in Pschiatry.

So I'm a new nurse with my 1st nursing position and I have a question for the seasoned nurses out there. I just started a new job and the patient ratio is around 8:1. I've noticed that on the 7a-7p shift it takes over 4 hours to pass morning meds. BGM's that should be done before meals are being done when people are actually eating their meals and coverage has been as late as noon for 8 a.m. insulin. Am I just being picky or does something seem really off in this scenario?

I know I'm a new nurse, however I'm pretty sure it's important for people to get insulin coverage in a timely manner. And I can't see how it takes 4-5 hours to pass morning meds, especially since there are no assessments being done at the same time. In fact, I haven't seen one assessment done, except the one I did the other day on a new admission. How can a person give report on someone they haven't assessed? How do you know their lungs are clear? You never listened to them. The only thing you know is that you gave them meds and went on.

Please tell me I'm not crazy and that something is really wrong here. I realize the real world is very unlike nursing school, but come on.

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So I'm a new nurse with my 1st nursing position and I have a question for the seasoned nurses out there. I just started a new job and the patient ratio is around 8:1. I've noticed that on the 7a-7p shift it takes over 4 hours to pass morning meds. BGM's that should be done before meals are being done when people are actually eating their meals and coverage has been as late as noon for 8 a.m. insulin. Am I just being picky or does something seem really off in this scenario?

I know I'm a new nurse, however I'm pretty sure it's important for people to get insulin coverage in a timely manner. And I can't see how it takes 4-5 hours to pass morning meds, especially since there are no assessments being done at the same time. In fact, I haven't seen one assessment done, except the one I did the other day on a new admission. How can a person give report on someone they haven't assessed? How do you know their lungs are clear? You never listened to them. The only thing you know is that you gave them meds and went on.

Please tell me I'm not crazy and that something is really wrong here. I realize the real world is very unlike nursing school, but come on.

What area are you working in and on what shift? Are you off orientation? When I worked in med/surg with an 8:1 ratio, sometimes accuchecks got skipped completely. It's all about prioritizing care. The nurses taking four hours to pass meds could be slow and disorganized ...or they could be dealing with other things that you're not even aware need to be addressed at this point in your new career.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
So I'm a new nurse with my 1st nursing position and I have a question for the seasoned nurses out there. I just started a new job and the patient ratio is around 8:1. I've noticed that on the 7a-7p shift it takes over 4 hours to pass morning meds. BGM's that should be done before meals are being done when people are actually eating their meals and coverage has been as late as noon for 8 a.m. insulin. Am I just being picky or does something seem really off in this scenario

Considering that breakfast is usually right around change-of-shift, the night shift should ideally be the ones to do the BG checks and, depending on when the patient eats, also give the insulin.

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All the facilities where I worked, the night shift took care of the BG checks and insulins.

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Specializes in Pschiatry.
What area are you working in and on what shift? Are you off orientation? When I worked in med/surg with an 8:1 ratio, sometimes accuchecks got skipped completely. It's all about prioritizing care. The nurses taking four hours to pass meds could be slow and disorganized ...or they could be dealing with other things that you're not even aware need to be addressed at this point in your new career.

I'm working a non-acute skilled care unit in a hospital. 1worjedked 7a-7p now on 7p-7a. Because I'm orienting I'm by their eide the whole shift.

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I'm working a non-acute skilled care unit in a hospital. 1worjedked 7a-7p now on 7p-7a. Because I'm orienting I'm by their eide the whole shift.

Well, there ya go! Come back when you're on your own. Your perspective will very likely be different. ;) The nurse(s) you're working with not only have all their tasks to do, but the extra work of orienting you.

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Do you have any CNAs or pcts? or are the nurses doing total care?

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OP, I thought you were hired on an oncology unit?

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