7:30 meds? Who is responsible for giving?

Published

  1. Do you give 7:30 meds (or the equivalent) when coming off a shift?

    • 10
      Yes
    • 56
      No

28 members have participated

My nurse manager is constantly coming up with new rules. One of the latest ones is we must give 730 meds. My shift is from 7p-7a. We are required to be on the floor by 630 to give report. Since we cannot give the 730 meds until 630 we are scrambling to give the meds and then give report and be out by 730. If we clock out late too many times, we can get in trouble. I feel like this not only stresses us out, but it is not safe because not only are we rushing but most meds are scheduled at 730 because they are to be given with breakfast. I just want to know is this common practice or are we the only ones required to give meds due after the end of our shift?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac, Intermediate Care.

It is common practice for my unit to give 0730 meds before the end of the shift. Some give report and then pass those meds. Others pass the meds first around 0630 and then give report.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The only 0730 meds we give on nights is sliding scale insulins. Days shift gives meal coverage and other 0730 meds on our floor. One reason is a med tech pulls meds from 0730 but has no access to the worklist in epic only the pyxis. ( they tried this on nights for 2000 and 2200 meds but we hated it so they stopped) so if we gave 0730 meds it would just cause confusion and it just wouldn't make sense because like you said a lot are meant to be given with meals.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg.

We work 7-7 and give any meds before seven (am/pm) on the shift we work. Day shift does 07:00 meds and night shift does 19:00.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical Oncology, Alzheimer/dementia.

My shift is 1900-0730. I give 0730 meds. I pick up a few more patients from pm shift at 2300. They will give any 2330 meds before they clock out.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

So you arrive to work at 1900 vs our 1830? Do you give 800 meds then since from what I'm gathering that would be equivalent to our 730 meds?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Proud nurse-you arrive to work at 1900 vs our 1830? If that's the case, do you give 800 meds before you leave?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Moved to the Nursing and Patient Medications forum

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.

The 0730 meds can easily be given up to 0830. Absolutely not.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.

I give the 0700 synthroid, Prilosec, carafate, etc. Anything that should be given before meals/breakfast. We do Not give scheduled or sliding scale insulin unless the Pt's food is in front of them. I'm thankful that we can tweak our MAR times to reflect how a Pt normally takes their home meds and those once daily meds, or even if QID, TID, BID meds get thrown off such as not having IV access for an IV ABX. We also have an hour before/hour after to give meds "on time". We do the 7 to 7 shift.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in critical care.

Our shifts are 0630-1900 and 1830-0700. 0730 and 1930 meds are the responsibility of the oncoming shift. 0600 and 1800, the off going shift.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg.

That's really odd. 7 am/pm I can see, but the next shift could easily cluster the 7:30 meds with their 9:00 with that hour window.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion