Post discharge care of patients with delayed ride home

[Angela Guyer]

Once a physician has written the discharge order, are nurses allowed to continue giving medications and treating the patient while they are waiting for family to come pick them up? Sometimes it can be the next morning if not longer. Is that nurse practicing without a license? Does the discharge order mean the patient is no longer being seen by the physician? Can you be reimbursed for things after discharge order is entered?

[Okami_CCRN, BSN, RN]

The patient remains admitted until they physically leave the hospital and under the care of the attending physician, resident team (if applicable), and nurse. 

At times a patient may not agree with their discharge and choose to appeal. Their discharge order remains active, while the appeal process takes place. Do you stop rendering care? Of course not. 

However, it is important that if a patient cannot be discharged that same day d/t transportation that the social worker/case manager be looped in as well as making the attending aware that the patient will remain in the hospital. 

[Avonlea]

what OKAMI said......

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

I agree with the above and would add that a discharge order is not the same as a discharge. The nurse completes the discharge, but just like with every physician order, it must not be completed unless and until it is appropriate.