HarmonyStewart

So it is specifically because of the "give one tab then hour later give second tab" that makes the patient unable to have a second tab say 3 hours later rather than one hour? I guess I've just never seen a pain order written like that.

I am orientating to a new hospital and while orientating on the floor, pain management was brought up between my orientator and me. My patient had an order for Norco 1-2 tabs every 6 hours. At the bottom of the order it also said "give one and if pain not controlled after an hour, give another." My patient received one tab and approximately 5 hours later was having more pain. I brought up to the RN working with me that she can have another Norco because the order was 1-2 within 6 hrs. She had only received one. She told me I can't do that. If they only take one and don't take the second within an hour they can't have another tab for 6 hours. What? I argued with her and she said I'd have to call the doctor to get an order to give a second tab early. This just seemed bizarre to me. Seems like she would not be properly controlling the patients pain by this method.