Question regarding medicine administration

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi everyone,

I am currently a student and I will be starting pharmacology next semester. I have a question regarding giving medicines- How do you remember to give all of your patients their medicine on time? Is there some kind of system in place that reminds you that patient X is due for Y medicine?

I know it seems like a dumb question but I've always wondered how nurses remember to give all of their patients their medicines on time. Also, any tips that help you remember giving meds on time will be appreciated.

Thanks :D

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Specializes in Utilization Management.

When I'm going over charts at the start of a shift, I write the times that meds are due for each patient on my report sheet.

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Specializes in ICU.

don't get too ahead of yourself nissan. you'll find your own style once you atart working. for now just concentrate on school- pharm has a lot to remember.

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When I'm going over charts at the start of a shift I write the times that meds are due for each patient on my report sheet.[/quote']

That sounds like a wonderful idea. I will definitely keep it in mind when I start working. Thanks :)

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don't get too ahead of yourself nissan. you'll find your own style once you atart working. for now just concentrate on school- pharm has a lot to remember.

Thanks. I understand what you are saying. I was just worried I might forget to give one of my patients their medicine on time so I was thinking of ways to keep that from happening. :)

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don't get too ahead of yourself nissan. you'll find your own style once you atart working. for now just concentrate on school- pharm has a lot to remember.

Yup. Don't make a mountain out of a mole hill. Things like this are not your concern yet. All things in time. Relax.

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When time comes. U can get your own style how to deal on due meds...

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Specializes in Cath Lab & Interventional Radiology.

Usually there are systems in place at the facilities that you do your clinicals at. Around this area the nursing homes have all of the medication in punch out packs. The morning medications are in one drawer and the evening meds are in another. They are all in order of the room numbers, as is the MAR. The nurse goes down the hall in order administering the meds and after the meds are given they are placed back in the drawer facing the opposite direction. That way if there are meds facing the wrong direction, the nurse knows that they probably haven't been given yet.

At the hospitals around here all of the meds are on the MAR on the computer. When you log into the system, your patients are listed on the first screen. If there are past due meds the time they were supposed to be administered shows up highlighted in red.

As stated above, each facility is unique and has their own system. Usually I keep a cheat sheet that has info for all of my patients. On this sheet I list all of the things that I need to do for my patient and times that meds need to be given. Keeping track of everything you do on this sheet also makes it easier to give report when you leave, because all of your information is right there. If you search on here there is a link to many different report sheets that will help you organize yourself. For the facilities that I have clinicals at that have computer charting, I also made a sheet that lists all of the charting that I need to do. This way I can make sure I get all my charting done.

Hope this helps you get an idea. Good luck to you in pharm! :nurse:

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Specializes in LTC.

If you work in LTC. Your MAR will be bigger than Holy Bible.

For the first med pass I go in room order.. and flag anything that I skip and come back to later to the right. Anything for HS med pass goes to the left.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Where I work( a hospital) the med times are pretty much standard.0900, 1200, 1700 & 2100.Anything out of that norm I write on my cheat sheet for the shift. After I get out of report I check the MAR for my patients and make note of any unusual med time.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

I disagree with some posters that u shouldn't be worrying about this. I've told 1st year students START LEARNING YOUR MEDICATIONS! It's never too early, even if u just pick up basic info!

I use a cheat sheet (or report sheet) with all the patients name on one side, & each hour up top, grab all their charts & write everything down due at whatever time, ie: meds on my pm shift are usually given at 1800 & 2000 hours. I write everything in different colours, ie: IVs in red, meds in green. Any unusual med times I put a star next to patient's name in red & that alerts me to the unusual time. It takes a while to get used to a routine, but always start meds as early as you can.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
Where I work( a hospital) the med times are pretty much standard.0900, 1200, 1700 & 2100.Anything out of that norm I write on my cheat sheet for the shift. After I get out of report I check the MAR for my patients and make note of any unusual med time.

Same here...and it does help make things easier :) After each med pass, I look through the MAR and note who's got meds at the next standard med time. I also check at the beginning of the shift for any odd med admin times.

Everyone keeps track of their meds differently. Try a few different ways out to see which one works the best for you.

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