Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.
allnurses

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.
Discussion

Narcan

I currently work at a jail and we are trying to advocate getting narcan for our intake nurses. My administrator told us that we could not do that because patients who receive narcan are supposed to be on continuous cardiac monitoring afterwards. I would assume that if I had to narcan someone in a jail then EMS would be called as well. Has anyone heard of this?

  • Quote

    • Featured Replies

    • Guides
    We give it frequently on our Med/Surge unit and the protocol does not require cardiac monitoring after administration. We throw them on continuous pulse ox for a while just to be safe but that's not required per protocol. I think they are pulling a fast one.

    Who's writing the narc scripts on your unit if you have to use it frequently??

    Per UTD:

    "Monitoring Parameters

    Respiratory rate, heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, level of consciousness, ABGs or pulse oximetry"

  • Quote
    Who's writing the narc scripts on your unit if you have to use it frequently??

    Per UTD:

    "Monitoring Parameters

    Respiratory rate, heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, level of consciousness, ABGs or pulse oximetry"

    I apologize. I was too flippant in my response. "Frequently" was a bit of an exaggeration. I work nights at a non-teaching hospital and from what I have observed, the nurses seem reluctant to call the docs for things at night so they get a bit heavy handed w/ the narcs and prns at times.

    Also, we have a few doctors that prescribe very heavy handedly, IMO.

    Example: Post-op laminectomy: Dilaudid PCA (0.2mg dose /10min. lockout/4.0mg 4 hr. limit), Norco 10/325mg 2 tabs. q 4 hr. prn, Serax 15-30 mg q 4 hr. prn (which they want given in tandem w/ the Norco), Flexeril 10mg q8 prn, Nuerontin 600mg BID, Restoril 30mg @ hs prn.

    These patients are frequently given all of these prn's every time they can. Most are not narcotic/benzo naive and can handle it but I have come on shift to find a few of them gorked out and hallucinating. BUT, better keep their pain score w/ in goal lest we get a bad survey!

    You are right, though, about the monitoring and I stand corrected. And slightly embarrassed. I really was thinking about cardiac monitoring only. The other assessments, to me, were a given and don't require any extra equipment (w/ the exception of ABG capability).

    BTW, per protocol, a rapid response is called any time Narcan is given so the patients are monitored closely throughout.

  • Quote

    • Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Add a Comment
    Go to topic listing

    Currently Reading 0

    • No registered users viewing this page.

    Account

    Navigation

    Search

    Search

    Configure browser push notifications
    Chrome (Android)
    1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
    2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
    3. Adjust your preference.
    Chrome (Desktop)
    1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
    2. Select Site settings.
    3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.