signing meds as you pop to give??

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Specializes in Geriatrics, LTC.

I know standard of practice has always been you pop the meds you give them and then sign them out of the MAR. But.....we were talking the other day at work and someone was talking that at another facility someone there asked the state surveyor if it was alright to sign as popping them, and the state person said "yes because you are going to come back and circle them if the person didn't take them". Now my curiosity is are the state surveyors allowing us to sign as we are popping them...is this true? To me it makes perfect sense, you don't have to worry about some emergency and someone else coming over to help and giving meds you already gave because you hadn't signed them out.

Anyhow just wanted some opinions/info on this. thanks! :typing

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I know standard of practice has always been you pop the meds you give them and then sign them out of the MAR. But.....we were talking the other day at work and someone was talking that at another facility someone there asked the state surveyor if it was alright to sign as popping them, and the state person said "yes because you are going to come back and circle them if the person didn't take them". Now my curiosity is are the state surveyors allowing us to sign as we are popping them...is this true? To me it makes perfect sense, you don't have to worry about some emergency and someone else coming over to help and giving meds you already gave because you hadn't signed them out.

Anyhow just wanted some opinions/info on this. thanks! :typing

We got tagged for the same scenario. You should not sign out until the meds are given. I see many nurses place a dot in the box as they pop them out just as a reminder that they did place the med in the cup.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, LTC.
We got tagged for the same scenario. You should not sign out until the meds are given. I see many nurses place a dot in the box as they pop them out just as a reminder that they did place the med in the cup.

That's pretty much what all of us do, but I wonder why that particular surveyor said this. Some thought maybe this was changing where we could. I guess some just don't see the reason for not being able to sign as popping. Reason being just what I said you give the meds and then oops a big emergency and well then if someone has to help you out well they have no way of knowing they were given. And I know the easy answer would be to not help out, but then you are out of compliance on the times. You know?

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Specializes in LTC/Rehab,Med/Surg, OB/GYN, Ortho, Neuro.

I put a dot on the MAR next to each med that I pull, but I don't pop any until I get to the bedside and gone over every med. I've had pts refuse or question meds too many times to just pre-pop them. Little time consuming, but will save me headaches later on.

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Specializes in med/surg, IV team, medical telemetry.

In one of the last surveys the surveyor indicated that nurses are to put the exact time of administration on the MAR. I believe the nurse must take the MAR to the pt to compare with ID band. This is a right of pateints, receive the right med to the right pt. At that time, the nurse can pop and place the med in the cup while explaining to the pt what the med is and what it is for. It is too easy to forget to circle or sign out if the MAR is not present at time of administration.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU, Neuro/Trauma stepdown.
I put a dot on the MAR next to each med that I pull, but I don't pop any until I get to the bedside and gone over every med.

:thankya: good tip

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