Pre-Pour medication: to do or not to do

NMlpn2rn · May 9, 2012

I would never pre pour. There are to many risks that come along with that.God forbid state ever saw that Im sure you know how bad that would be.You seem like a very smart nurse for not copying the bad habits of your Co-workers(not saying they are bad nurses because I know plenty of amazing nurses that have the bad habit of pre pouring).I know that pre pouring also saves time but it's just not worth the risks in my opinion

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · May 9, 2012

When should you pre-pour meds?

1) Never

2) Never

and 3) NEVER!

Your co-workers are wrong. State surveyors would barbecue the facility for that, and with good reason---because it's flat out unsafe. Way too easy to grab the wrong cup when you're in a hurry (and when are you NOT in a hurry?).

Don't worry about your co-workers...... just keep up the good work and pass your meds safely and accurately, the way you know it's supposed to be done. :up:

Do_Good · May 9, 2012

This is the way I feel as well. I work in a facility with no state oversight...we are a state agency yikes......I will keep on doing the right thing even though it's hard to deal with the scrutiny especially from the second shift workers who are used to coming in with their meds poured by everyone else. My license means more to me than being popular.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · May 9, 2012

They're passing meds prepared by someone ELSE??!!! :eek: That's even scarier than prepouring. How does anybody know exactly what's in the med cup they're passing if they weren't there when the pills were popped? Ye gawds, I'm getting the shivers just thinking about it.....{{{{{shudder}}}}}

caliotter3 · May 9, 2012

Sounds like you're saying they pre-pour for other nurses. Heavens, no. If I were going to pre-pour, I would only consider doing it for myself, and only if I kept the meds where no one else could get to them. I worked with a nurse who pre-poured all the time, it helped her free up more time for sleeping on night shift. She used to hide them in the med cart and hope the DON didn't make any surprise attacks. The DON had caught her doing this and yet, she still persisted. I learned from her not to pre-pour. Not a good idea.

tyvin, BSN, RN · May 9, 2012

This is the way I feel as well. I work in a facility with no state oversight...we are a state agency yikes......I will keep on doing the right thing even though it's hard to deal with the scrutiny especially from the second shift workers who are used to coming in with their meds poured by everyone else. My license means more to me than being popular.

If you are a state facility how is it that there are no state surveys?

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · May 9, 2012

They're passing meds prepared by someone ELSE??!!! That's even scarier than prepouring. How does anybody know exactly what's in the med cup they're passing if they weren't there when the pills were popped? Ye gawds, I'm getting the shivers just thinking about it.....{{{{{shudder}}}}}

I was just about to respond and then I saw that post about pouring other peoples meds and I thought WHHHHAAAATTTT??? :eek: :eek: :eek:

Oh Heck NO! Are you frigging kidding me????? :banghead:

Just when I think it can't get crazier........

Honey....:hug: please don't do this......let them give you the stink eye and start looking for another job maybe????

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · May 9, 2012

If you are a state facility how is it that there are no state surveys?

I haven't heard of not being surveyed but.....You don't have to self report. If you are the state and you report to the state........(shrugging shoulders) :bugeyes:

Do_Good · May 10, 2012

If you are a state facility how is it that there are no state surveys?

I really don't know why we don't have any kind of oversight. It is a correctional facility. I think the worst part is if an inmate doesn't show up for a prepoured narcotic, they leave it in the drawer for the next shift to use...can you believe it? Then that narc is sitting there and who knows how it is used. And....I'm considered not a "team player" because I don't pour and I destroy a narc not used....

JZ_RN · May 10, 2012

Why would you prepour? I mean I organize the pill boxes so that all the pills for my regular night med pass are in line, then Am med pass are all grouped together, just to save time.... but I don't pre-pour or pre-pull. I pull the pill from the box while viewing the MAR as I go and then line them up on the cart, check them against the mar, then they get put in the cup and taken to the patient, then I come back and sign them off.. I don't see how pre-pouring could really even save you that much time. You spend the same time pulling them ahead of time that you spend during med pass. I mean I know med pass takes a long time and maybe you want to save time there but it's not worth a mistake. I also sign off meds as I go, and I do ones that are narcotics and crucial timing/insulin, etc., first at the scheduled hour, and if someone gets their senna and tylenol an hour late it's not the end of the world.

imanurs03 · May 10, 2012

don't do it.