Shot time

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As of today, we were told there were not to be any more "shot time waits." We are to give the shot and send the patient out right away. I am having a huge problem with this. I keep thinking...I give the shot (IM) and the patient has a reaction by the time they get to their car, etc and then "who's fault" is it when something terrible happens? I said I would make my patients wait for safety reasons, etc but of course that went over like a lead balloon. Does anyone have policies in their ER for "shot times?" Or know of any "real" information to present to say that not waiting shot time could be dangerous?? Any thoughts, etc???:confused:

Specializes in Cardiac, ER.

The only pts we "hold" are for IM antibiotics. It's 30 min,..by the time I give the injection and get discharge papers ready it's usually time for the pt to go.

I do not give sedating meds by any route unless I see the "whites of the eyes" of the person driving.

If a pt recieves any sedating med I write on the discharge instructions "No driving for 12 hrs after discharge", even if they have a driver. Our discharge instructions also state no drinking alcohol.

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