Just wondering if I am too liberal with pain medication as a new nurse or if I am pretty normal. I sometimes feel as if more experienced nurses are questioning why I was giving the medication so often, etc. Or I see them only giving one type when I use a combo.
Our docs' standing orders are for Motrin 800 mg q 6-8 hours for mild-moderate pain and Percocet 1-2 q 3-4 for moderate to severe pain. They also write for Tylenol 3, but I rarely have patient's want want that.
I typically suggest taking the Motrin on a schedule sort of. I think it really helps with the cramping and my patients that were only getting Percocets always tell me how it is working better now that they are taking both. I always try to remind them to stay on top of the pain and sometimes that means taking it on a bit of a schedule.
I had a Vag delivery with that had a 1st degree lac that was repaired. She was allergic to NSAIDS and was just getting Percocets. When I gave report in the morning to the day nurse, she was just 12 hours post delivery. She and her hubby had both said that she had a low pain tolerance even with her first child. She was having quite a bit of cramping. I was giving her the Percocet, 2 q 3 hours or so. When I gave report, the day nurse told me that that wasn't happening on her shift and why was she having so much pain, she was "only a vag". It really upset me because she was obviously in pain and the Percocets q 3 were just keeping it under control.
I thought that our job was to believe what they tell you their pain was and go from there. When I came back that night, she was on 1 q 4 hours and it was kind of helping. I told her to call me when she needed one and if it was only 3 hours, I would still give it to her. Her doctor even told her that she would like to see her on 1 q 6-8 hours before she went home. I don't get that. She couldn't even have Motrin!
Anyway, just venting. I really try to keep my patient's pain under control and hate to come back to see that they haven't been medicated except once in 12 hours. I know they can ask, but still. I always ask how their pain is everytime I am in the room.
I also do other measures to help them like ice packs for the first 24 hours and then sitz baths after that. I offer warm blankets when cramping, peppermint or chamomile tea for gas, etc. I am not just about medication.
