Patient expires after you give pain medication

Published

Have you ever had a TERMINAL care patient or hospice patient who has been getting regular doses of (either separate or in combo) morphine, dilaudid and morphine for pain/respiratory distress/anxiety and just after you give a dose/doses on your rounds the patient passes? If the family is present have they ever made any comments or have you felt obligated to make a comment?

I am not suggesting the dose WAS the cause of their passing at that time and the nurse did anything wrong AND for purpose of my question the patient was comatose for a few days, expected to pass, was receiving the same doses from other nurses so no suggestion YOUR administration hastened or sped up the death. Just wondering how you dealt with it because it might be awkward in some cases.

That first sentence is so insightful. I'm going to remember that one.

That first sentence is so insightful. I'm going to remember that one.

Why is there a need to be sarcastic or a smart___ to my post? Can never understand why

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Moved to the Nursing & Patient Medications forum.

Unnecessary comment CalArmy.

if the question asked was: "Do you think the medication was why they died at this moment"? NOT an accusation, not that the nurse did anything wrong. Merely have you ever had this situation take place.

I have worked in home hospice for a while now. I have never had a family ask this question, but if they did, I would probably answer honestly and say "there is no way of knowing for sure." I would be sure to tell them that I have seen many clients pass away shortly after receiving medication for pain or anxiety, and I do believe that people often aren't able to let go until their pain or anxiety is relieved. Maybe that was the case with this particular person. Or maybe it wasn't, and it was just their time. We will never know.

Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.

I once had a patient (terminal) who passed after I gave them four drops of rivitrol

Specializes in Short Term/Skilled.

This just happened to me. A lot of nurses where I work don't want to give morphine if they can help it, and it disturbs me.

This paitent was very tolerant to opiods, would get 20mg oxycodone q4 and valium on top of that prior to her decline.

I came on (I'm a new grad, mind you) and her breathing was agonal and I was horrified.

I immediately got the morphine and gave it, her respiration's were up to 36. She died within about two minutes.

The more experieced nurses on my unit said she was about to go anyways, and I agree. Even if I did hasten her death, I don't care - because she was suffering and I know the morphine I gave her wasn't nearly enough to cause her death - it just made the process easier.

+ Join the Discussion