Patient wants to split doses of pain meds

[Cobweb]

She wants one pill every two hours instead of two pills every four hours. I don't mind it, but I explained to her that this is kind of a gray area and some nurses would not do this as it technically is illegal. (The doctor's order is 1-2 pills every 4-6 hours.) Then it occurred to me that I don't really know if it is! So, what do you all think?

[leslie :-D]

it sounds like you'd be opposingone of the 5 rights of med administration.

certainly not the right 'time'.

whether we as nurses, think it's fine or not, is moot.

because of the change in times, it requires a new order.

leslie

[Vito Andolini]

Well, I don't think it's about pain control; I think it's about control, period, hehe. She's been here less than 24 hours and already my CNAs are calling her "Princess" and not in a nice way.

I just couldn't remember if this is legal or just my perception, but seems the votes are pretty split here also. I was gonna throw her pain control issues to the doctor this morning, anyway; I just wanted to know for myself. Thanks though!

Here's a new element in the situation. What's that all about? How is it affecting your relationship with her? I see how it's affecting your opinion of her and probably of her pain.

I can't blame you if you don't like her or her ways, as this is something that just kind of happens. But it does complicate things when we dislike our patients, doesn't it?

[barefootlady, ADN, RN]

Here we would have to get a new order anyway. We cannot use the 1 or 2 pills q 4-6 hrs order. I has to be written 1 pill q 4 hour, 2 pills q 4 hour, or 1 pill q 2 hour per patient request. Yes, we do spend a lot of time rewriting orders. Some docs we call and others we just do the rewrite and know they will sign them when they make rounds.