priortizing care and distributing meds

allnurses Guide · Jan 17, 2009

It might help if you tell us what you're doing now, and what you're having trouble with...?

bonnie west · Jan 17, 2009

I am having trouble with my my medication distributing schedule. I have made a few med errors in the way the pt did not get the meds on time. Does anyone have a way they keep track when the next med is due other than the mars.

perkizme · Jan 18, 2009

Do you use some sort of kardex or notes on your patients taht you keep with you or carry around (i.e. in your pocket)? Sometimes I will just kind of write the times on the bottom of one of these sheets of notes I keep on my pts (just a simple 09, 13, 15, 19...) and then slash them off once I've given them. I also do this with serial labs that I have to draw- its a helpful reminder without carrying around or looking for the chart or mars all the time. If there are meds that are due around assessment times I try to group these together and take in with me during assessment. Organization and prioritization will come with time- you'll find your own technique to getting things done (usu. ends up being a combination of ideas you get from other RNs).

sweetlilnurse77 · Jan 27, 2009

Some people have a gift of organization and time mngmnt--I am not one of those people! I worked med/surg and had 8-9 pt assignments and had to learn quick. Diff hospitals have diff med charting systems--is yours computerized and how many pts do you care for at a time? When I had that many pts I placed their pt stickers on indiv zip lock bags and went down the line. You will find that the longer you have been a nurse--it all gets faster and the organization gets easier--you become more familiar with the meds etc and can prioritize by what needs to be given now vs what can wait an extra few minutes. Hang in there and try diff things until you find what works. Find the most organized RN in your unit and ask her what she does. :heartbeat

crb613, BSN, RN · Jan 27, 2009

When I worked M/S I had a lot of patients with a lot of meds.....this is how I did mine. I worked nights, so I got report at~ 1845-1915. I would go assess my pts & when I was done so was my initial charting. I gave any pain meds to those that needed them, addressed any other needs (hung low fluids)......then you have a little peace for a while :yeah: . I would then do all or as many of my chart checks as possible until ~2100. At 2100 I gave my 2000, 2100, & 2200 meds. At 0000 I gave my 2300, 0000, & 0100 meds. You get the picture. I also laid out my fluids/PB's I would need. I did my MARs checks after the 0000 med pass. I usually folded my MARs for each time frame so I would know who needed what. Now it did not always go that smooth.....but I had a schedule & knew what needed to be done at certain times. Since my pts were not on monitors I was constantly up & down the halls checking to make sure everyone was ok. Many times I would label bags & pull meds ahead of time, & attach to each MAR.......just keep it with you. You will develop what works best for you as you go along.....this is just how I did mine. Good luck!