perscription pads

[hunter-belle]

Our hospital just eliminated the "nursing station" in favor of individual "alcoves" for nurses to store the patient chart, meds, supplies as well as computer terminals for data entry. Doctors want perscription pads available at all times and are frustrated that we keep them in our pyxis. Instead they want them kept in the med drawers in the alcoves. According to our pharmacy, this is a dangerous practice since it will be difficult to keep track of the number of percriptions given out-a sure temptation for someone if we're not on top of this.

I'm not in favor of individual logs since that will be a nightmare to monitor. What is the practice in your hospital?

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

My hospital just instituted adding prescription papers into the printers. We have a log where we have to sign for how many we took out, what exam room they are to be placed in and the computer key is placed in the triage room of the clinic. The computer holds up to 200 of them, and we try to replace the scripts once a week. The computer is not programmed to print narcatics, though, so, we still keep a narc pad in the double locked container. Sort of annoying, but we do keep better track.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

With the new requirement that scripts be on special, tamper-proof paper (effective today actually), we as providers are required to carry our own.

[barbyann]

we have had them in the pyxis for a few years now. MD's got the hang of asking for them by patients last name. It works for us.

[barefootlady, ADN, RN]

Kept in locked drawer except when several docs are making rounds. One pad is usually give to unit clerk to hold on to for docs use. She returns it when they leave and its locked up with the others. Big business here in stealing these.

[Agnus]

Our hospital just eliminated the "nursing station" in favor of individual "alcoves" for nurses to store the patient chart, meds, supplies as well as computer terminals for data entry. Doctors want perscription pads available at all times and are frustrated that we keep them in our pyxis. Instead they want them kept in the med drawers in the alcoves. According to our pharmacy, this is a dangerous practice since it will be difficult to keep track of the number of percriptions given out-a sure temptation for someone if we're not on top of this.

I'm not in favor of individual logs since that will be a nightmare to monitor. What is the practice in your hospital?

We do not use prescription pads at all. If the doctor writes for a controlled substance then he himself must call it in himself or write it on his own prescription pad and give it directly to the patient. Most of the Docs call in these scripts.

[AuntieRN]

Ours are locked up in the pyxis and we make sure there is always at least one available on the floor. Its kept in the drawer between the charge nurse and unit secretary. Most of our docs carry their own anyways.

[jessiern, BSN, RN]

I guess we're running a little behind things down here...Our RX pads are in drawers at the nurses station. When the doc says "I need a pad", every checkes the drawer nearest them.

Thank God for small town hospitals. :heartbeat

[purple_rose_3]

Ours aren't locked up either. We have them in most of the drawers in the nurses station if not just "sitting around."

[mianders, RN]

We don't lock ours up either. They are kept in a drawer. In the ER they are printed off the computer.

[imanedrn]

We keeps the pads in drawers (not locked) at the nurse's station and also in the drawers of our med carts (locked). Haven't heard of any problems coming from this way.

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

My last floor kept them in the AccuDose, but a lot of the attending surgeons carried their own. Also, there was a program physicians had access to that allowed them to create the script and print it out from any computer in the hospital. A lot of the residents utilized that.