oh and just a suggestion if you don't want to get written up do this!

[gt4everpn, BSN, RN]

I've worked in LTC as an lpn for a year. yet another med error has come down in a write up. someone transcribed a med onto the MAR that wasn't supposed to be there.and the nurses signed for the med plus the name of the med is similiar to the name of another med the pt is on. so the supervisor suggested that the nurses come in 15 min early to check the order book against the MAR. great idea sup. the only thing is that in ltc its 20-40 pts all on atleast 10 different meds. the order book is the size of websters dictionary because of all the interim monthly discontinued and renewed meds which makes going through the order book oh so confusing and probably would take an hour. so I basically had to talk the supervisor out of writing me and 2 other nurses up for a mistake someone else made. how do u avoid a mistake like this and do I really have to come in an hour early to check each and every single order?

[gt4everpn, BSN, RN]

oh and BTW the night nurse is supposed to audit the orders against the MAR/TAR?

[caliotter3]

Perhaps the night nurse needs to be talked to by the supervisor. Expecting you to come in early to look at the order book is unreasonable.

[Lovely_RN, MSN]

Stuff like this makes me want to run as far away from LTC as I possibly can. It's not enough that we are worked nearly to death during our shifts now the want to steal our time too. Humph, I bet if you mentioned getting paid for those 15 minutes the DNS would look at you like you are a trouble maker.

Do you belong to a union? I would have refused to sign anything pertaining to that write up unless my union delegate was present. If there is no union well then what can you do except argue your point and hope for the best?

[gt4everpn, BSN, RN]

this write up that are happening, keep happening on the same unit, Hmm what does that say?

[justme1972]

I've worked in LTC as an lpn for a year. yet another med error has come down in a write up. someone transcribed a med onto the MAR that wasn't supposed to be there.and the nurses signed for the med plus the name of the med is similiar to the name of another med the pt is on. so the supervisor suggested that the nurses come in 15 min early to check the order book against the MAR. great idea sup. the only thing is that in ltc its 20-40 pts all on atleast 10 different meds. the order book is the size of websters dictionary because of all the interim monthly discontinued and renewed meds which makes going through the order book oh so confusing and probably would take an hour. so I basically had to talk the supervisor out of writing me and 2 other nurses up for a mistake someone else made. how do u avoid a mistake like this and do I really have to come in an hour early to check each and every single order?

Why is anyone but an RN or LPN transcribing an order to start with?

Transcribing after a medication has been given is entirely different than before...unit secretaries have no medical training and to me, there is the problem.

If a physician is calling in an order or faxing it in, the nurse should be the only one taking that...it's against the law for anyone else to do it in my state.

[gt4everpn, BSN, RN]

why is anyone but an rn or lpn transcribing an order to start with?

transcribing after a medication has been given is entirely different than before...unit secretaries have no medical training and to me, there is the problem.

if a physician is calling in an order or faxing it in, the nurse should be the only one taking that...it's against the law for anyone else to do it in my state.

one of the morning nurses trancribed the order when it shouldnt have been there and then thats where the supposed problem started!

[cherokeesummer]

It seems like they need to have some talking to all shifts involved and get feedback on suggestions from the nurses. As the nurse, you guys know first hand the troubles and can offer some suggestions.

Would be nice if they could computerize everything LOL, find a way to make it all easier to access (and that would narrow down filtering through tons of pages of discontinued meds).

[justme1972]

why is anyone but an rn or lpn transcribing an order to start with?

transcribing after a medication has been given is entirely different than before...unit secretaries have no medical training and to me, there is the problem.

if a physician is calling in an order or faxing it in, the nurse should be the only one taking that...it's against the law for anyone else to do it in my state.

one of the morning nurses trancribed the order when it shouldnt have been there and then thats where the supposed problem started!

ahhhh..."i see" said the blind man.

wow...i don't even have a guess on this one.

[suanna]

Sure, they can insist you come in 15min, an hour, 2hrs earily- as long as they pay you for it. Checking meds is part of what we were educated to do. They are paying you for the skills and knolwedge of a licenced nurse. I would no more come in an hour earily to check my MARs than I would come in earily to get a head start on my baths and assessments. If there is a problem with the system that promotes errors then the institution has to find a solution to that problem. If you want to volunteer your time I can think of a lot more worthy causes. When a company requires you to work over or come in earily on your own time- that isn't employment, it's slavery- and I'm pretty sure that went out of style about 150 years ago.