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Do patients usuay ask how long medication will last? Will i have to rapidly do my math to figure that out?

Will i have to use math all the time

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Your question is too vague. What do you mean? Are you talking about the half life of the medications?

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Specializes in ER, cardiac, addictions.
Do patients usuay ask how long medication will last? Will i have to rapidly do my math to figure that out?

Will i have to use math all the time

In my experience, patients often ask that question about medications for pain, nausea, anxiety, etc. I wouldn't worry too much about the math part of it-----most of the time, they just want to know what to expect, and to be sure that you'll be ready to give more when it starts to wear off.

Yes, you'll need to use math fairly often, but most of the time it's not too complicated.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I found its important to know these things for yourself. Such as if you are giving pain medication... for example Morphine IV push.. how long will this last for the patient... 15-20 mins or so... ok well if i give them T3's at the same time that should provide them with longer pain releif without the peaks and valleys. I am just beginning to learn this, but i find knowing your medications and how long they will last, how fast they will work.. adverse effects to be aware of etc are important to know.

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Specializes in Hospice.
I found its important to know these things for yourself. Such as if you are giving pain medication... for example Morphine IV push.. how long will this last for the patient... 15-20 mins or so... ok well if i give them T3's at the same time that should provide them with longer pain releif without the peaks and valleys. I am just beginning to learn this, but i find knowing your medications and how long they will last, how fast they will work.. adverse effects to be aware of etc are important to know.

IV morphine peaks in 15-20 minutes but it certainly last longer. about 2.5 to 7 hours. i do have iv morphine orders that can be given hourly to pts but the earliest i usually have to redose is 2 to 4 hours later... To answer the origonal poster after you work with drugs for a while you will know these answers to the ones you use regularly and for the others you can look it up. No shame in saying... "im not sure but i will find that answer for you"

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
IV morphine peaks in 15-20 minutes but it certainly last longer. about 2.5 to 7 hours. i do have iv morphine orders that can be given hourly to pts but the earliest i usually have to redose is 2 to 4 hours later... To answer the origonal poster after you work with drugs for a while you will know these answers to the ones you use regularly and for the others you can look it up. No shame in saying... "im not sure but i will find that answer for you"

I am kind of confused.. i know this is not really along the lines of the OP topic, but now that we are talking about it, Why do I get post op orders for Morphine 1-5mg IV q15. ??... these are fresh post op patients.... But yes I do understand that morphine can last longer but it peaks at 15-20 mins, however this makes me wonder why we can give it q15 then?... I always rationaled that by the time the morphine starts wearing off the T3s have kicked in to help along with it too.. balanced analgesia?

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Specializes in Hospice.

My guess would be because it will be at its peak so you can assess the respiratory depression to assess if its okay to give more ?

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