Refusing..... Eye drops??

[J2016]

Hello everyone! Always wanted to post but never had anything to say until today. A little about me: I just graduated as a Certified Medical Assistant, but after working in Assisted Living facilities for the last year and a half I have decided to stay with my current job and continue with my degree in Registered Nursing.

In assisted living we have "med techs" that pass pills and handle medications such as eye drops, as well as doing the 24 hour reports. Yesterday was my last training as a Med Tech after being just normal Direct Care Staff at this facility for ~3 months.

During my 3 days of med tech training, I've had ONE resident give me issues that I wouldn't normally expect. This resident, ALTHOUGH she has in the past been confused about where she is, I would say is of mostly sound mind. She's ok with me giving her HS pills, but refuses to let me give her eye drops. She always has the excuse that she "always" waits until she's in bed to get them, but I've asked the other med techs and they said she's never said that to them. Basically, every other med tech walks into the room with the bottle and she immediately takes her glasses off.

This has kept me up all night trying to figure out why she would refuse me giving her eye drops. Being a male that works in healthcare, I know and understand that some women residents want a woman to assist them with toileting and bathing. She is one of those people, but has gotten used to me and allows me to toilet her. It's just that she's refusing.... Eye drops!!!!

It's not that I feel like a failure or feel depressed about this. It's just that it's so bizarre. We have a memory care unit and I get told "eat ****" and get swung at/screamed at/scratched nearly every day. It's just this ONE resident, on the regular assisted living unit, that is giving me issues.

I guess my question is, how do I just "make this happen"? I've been considering just telling her "[other med tech] and [other med tech] give you your drops at this time every day. They keep your eyes healthy!" And just telling her that my shift ends soon so if she doesn't take them she has to wait until tommorow night to get them. Even on memory care I've never had a resident go to bed without their meds (there's been a couple refusals, but they took them later on without issue). I've just been having the aides on the floor give them to her, which she allows and I WOULD be ok with doing this forever. The thing is, it just takes time out of my shift when I have a TON of HS pills and inhalers and eye drops to be passing on both units. Every minute counts.

Any suggestions??

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

Thank you! I have medscape on my phone that I use to look up for medications when I do have time (because you are correct, we don't have a lot of time) but it doesn't give me a whole lot. I'll have to try Epocrates. I'll have more time tonight on Noc shift ☺️

I applaud you wanting to learn and do right by your patients. OCD has helped many a nurse be good nurses. I wish you all the best.