Giving medications

Specialties Private Duty

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So I work in home care and I've been with my patient for almost 2 years now. I have had some suspensions now that the family is not giving my patient his medicine as prescribed. My patient is a toddler and after I leave he still have medications to be given throughout the rest of the night. Ex.Aerosol meds. I would come back the next day and all aerosols are still there even if I knew there were 4 left , it would be the same when I check again. Is there anything I should do ?

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Definitely discuss with your clinical manager... Meds may need to be discontinued. Also sounds like the parents need some education!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
So I work in home care and I've been with my patient for almost 2 years now.
Welcome! Your thread was moved to our Private Duty Nursing forum with the goal of drumming up more responses.
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Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.

I would definitely discuss with your supervisor. It could be a case of extenuating circumstances (child not exhibiting symptoms and needing the sleep more than the medication) or a case of the doctor having changed the orders for med administration without the POC being updated or a simple error / episode of forgetfulness on the parent's part.

However, if it's a maintenance medication that the child actually needs that the parents are simply neglecting to give regularly, that would be a situation that would require a mandated report to Child Protective Services for medical neglect.

Whichever the situation, pass it up the chain of command and let your supervisor deal with it first.

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