what nurses do in this situation?

Emergency RN · Feb 9, 2010

What do you do when your values and thoughts differ from your residents'?

Remember what the law says. Assuming that he is of sound mind, the patient has the right to refuse, even if it means his death. You may not like it, but you have to abide by it. Period.

Notify the medical authority involved in his case that the patient is refusing whatever meds it was, and document the refusal in your notes.

NS2SBowman · Feb 9, 2010

I am a nursing student and they have always taught us the patient has the right to refuse any care, treatment, or medication if they are of sound mind. I had a patient refuse a pain med last week and we just documented it in the computer as refused. If it were me and I didn't want to take something I wouldn't want to be forced to take it, just my opinion.

OncallRN · Feb 9, 2010

sounds a little bit like a homework assignment to me...

and you do need to notify the MD the pt is refusing the meds

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Feb 9, 2010

Not sure if its a "policy" in all places but in my LTC, if a resident refuses a med or treatment (any med..even a daily vit) we are to document, call the MD and call the family member/medical proxy too.

And our residents, even not of sound mind, have the right to refuse to take a med. We cannot force it down their throat and make them take it. Same policy prevails, resident refuses med/tx, document, call MD and the family member/medical proxy.

rinks2010 · Feb 9, 2010

Actually in my Nursing home while having board meeting, all nurses were discussing what to do in this situation because some smart residents keep on refusing their meds. And when I came bacck home from my work and I did a lot of search to find my scenario book and posted the scenario here to know what nurses think and what we should do in this case.:)

Orca, ADN, ASN, RN · Feb 9, 2010

In my work setting the only forced medications are through court order. These are generally mental health patients who are out of control without meds but they refuse to acknowledge that they have a problem or take any medication on their own.

rita359 · Feb 9, 2010

When you notify the md also tell md why patient doesn't take med. There are many meds that can be ordered that may serve the same purpose and not cause the patient the side effect that is causing him to refuse the specific med. Sometime finding the right med is a trial and error process.

meadowsong, ASN, RN · Feb 9, 2010

The resident has the right to refuse any medication, meal, treatment, etc etc. They are adults even if they may not be *with it* and their rights follow them all through their lifespan. Plain and simple. You do the best you can explaining the situation, make a few attempts, then document the refusal. We do not notify on the first refusal though, only if it becomes a habit.

wildwoman · Feb 9, 2010

If I find myself disagreeing with the patient's decision, I make sure that they thoroughly understand the consequence of their actions because that's my job as a patient advocate. I am the person who stands between the doctor and the patient, and I am fighting for the patient's right to decide, even if I don't agree with them. Otherwise, I'm just the doctor's hand maiden.

proudnurseRN · Feb 9, 2010

Pretty much as above, with the exception that since I work nights, I don't notify the MD of a refusal unless it's a critical med. If the pt is refusing a stool softner because they had a BM 20 minutes ago, I'm not calling the doc. I pass it on and leave a note on the chart.

Now, if they are refusing a BP med and their pressure is 180/100, then I'm calling.

loriangel14, RN · Feb 9, 2010

Where I work if a pt refuses a med you cannot make them take it. They have the right to refuse. We will notify the doc only if it an ongoing issue. One refusal is not considered an emergency issue to be reported.