sitting with drug seekers.

Jacob080110 · Jan 14, 2016

I do not understand how it is so difficult for some nurses to give the q4 dilaudid right on the dot, it is their freaking job! I do understand that every now and again emergencies happen and a nurse may not be able to get to it right away but if this is happening often it is because the nurses suck. Some nurses are just lazy or rude and think they are little gods whose job it is to decide who is worthy of getting their SCHEDULED medications on time. It is the nurses JOB to get the pain medication to the patient on time and it appears that the nurses you work with are not doing their jobs.

THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN · Jan 15, 2016

I do not understand how it is so difficult for some nurses to give the q4 dilaudid right on the dot, it is their freaking job! I do understand that every now and again emergencies happen and a nurse may not be able to get to it right away but if this is happening often it is because the nurses suck. Some nurses are just lazy or rude and think they are little gods whose job it is to decide who is worthy of getting their SCHEDULED medications on time. It is the nurses JOB to get the pain medication to the patient on time and it appears that the nurses you work with are not doing their jobs.

Who do you know that has one pt and one pt only?? It's a q4hr prn order! Not scheduled. Now, I pride myself on being on time with meds if I know that person will want it on the dot but if something happens like someone needs the bathroom or another call light is going off, I am not gonna ignore that to give pain meds. You sound butt hurt about the big D.

anh06005, MSN, APRN, NP · Jan 15, 2016

I do not understand how it is so difficult for some nurses to give the q4 dilaudid right on the dot, it is their freaking job! I do understand that every now and again emergencies happen and a nurse may not be able to get to it right away but if this is happening often it is because the nurses suck. Some nurses are just lazy or rude and think they are little gods whose job it is to decide who is worthy of getting their SCHEDULED medications on time. It is the nurses JOB to get the pain medication to the patient on time and it appears that the nurses you work with are not doing their jobs.

If it is a PRN order it is NOT our job to give it every 4 hours. We can give it up to every 4 hours AS NEEDED. Even scheduled meds usually have a 15-30 minute window before or after the due time as it is impossible to give 5 patients 0900 meds at 0900.

I really hope this post was actually sarcasm...I really really hope.

NanikRN · Jan 15, 2016

I do not understand how it is so difficult for some nurses to give the q4 dilaudid right on the dot, it is their freaking job! I do understand that every now and again emergencies happen and a nurse may not be able to get to it right away but if this is happening often it is because the nurses suck. Some nurses are just lazy or rude and think they are little gods whose job it is to decide who is worthy of getting their SCHEDULED medications on time. It is the nurses JOB to get the pain medication to the patient on time and it appears that the nurses you work with are not doing their jobs.

Surely this is sarcasim. Please let this be sarcasim. Please let there not be a nursing student that actually believes this.....

SarahJ08 · Jan 15, 2016

I do not understand how it is so difficult for some nurses to give the q4 dilaudid right on the dot, it is their freaking job! I do understand that every now and again emergencies happen and a nurse may not be able to get to it right away but if this is happening often it is because the nurses suck. Some nurses are just lazy or rude and think they are little gods whose job it is to decide who is worthy of getting their SCHEDULED medications on time. It is the nurses JOB to get the pain medication to the patient on time and it appears that the nurses you work with are not doing their jobs.

Well sir, there is a difference between SCHEDULED medication and AS NEEDED pain medication. 9/10 the doctor is going to order it as needed, and some patients refuse to understand that. And it sounds like you are not a nurse, so you probably shouldn't get on a nursing forum and tell nurses how to do their JOB. I need to start going into businesses and telling workers how I think they should get their job done. People think since they've seen a few episodes of grey's anatomy that they are experts on the nursing profession. Why don't you come and shadow me for a 12 hour shift and see how "lazy" nurses are.

sailornurse · Jan 15, 2016

Surely this is sarcasim. Please let this be sarcasim. Please let there not be a nursing student that actually believes this.....

Profile says is a nursing student, although has ASN,RN as credentials. Jacob, if you are a student TOS prohibits use of titles not earned. And if you are a student then you have no idea what nurses actually have to deal with on a shift.

anh06005, MSN, APRN, NP · Jan 15, 2016

So my job is primarily sitting with people for various reasons, one of them being people who are aggressive, or suicidal. 9 times out of 10, these people are wanting drugs at a pretty constant rate...the problem is when they are told that it isnt time, or when the doctor cuts them off completely. they act like its my fault or something..any ideas on coping with these guys?? 8 hours in a room with someone constantly freaking out because they didnt get their q4 dilaudid right on the dot get very very tedious. and now im just griping, but really hate it when their families show up, and either get them all riled up, or start fighting, etc.

I just came back to this on my bookmarks and resized I never really even addressed the OP....

All you can really do is remind the patient it is not time for the pain medication, try to talk and take their mind off things, etc. I they continue to get agitated remind them the medication can cause fatal issues if given too often and that they have the opportunity to speak with their doctor later in the shift if their pain is not adequately managed.

Unfortunately these patients will not be nice to sit with but your goal is only to keep them safe and assist the other nursing staff. I hate that you get the brunt of the attack but it's all in the job description.

Momof8CNA · Jan 15, 2016

exactly!! the nurse could have someone going out on them, and this person will be throwing temper tantrum because she didnt magically appear in the doorway at 7pm or whatever time they start demanding it. also, that is the point of my post..they dont need it! they will be snoring away, or running their mouths, kicked back and laughing..and here comes the time they are allowed to have more medicine and its like they become different people...and they get snotty with me, the sitter, because i cant force the nurse to come dope them up on time! :yes:

Momof8CNA · Jan 15, 2016

that is what i meant by drug seekers. i have seriously sat with cancer patients, who were on hospice, and completely just eaten up with it..that have acted less dramatic than these guys with their "back pain". the nurses are absolute saints for putting up with it as gracefully as they do, because they get on my last nerve. i sat with someone tonight who decided that since the nurse wasnt giving him his medicine fast enough, he would pace in front of the nurses station for 45 minutes, glaring at them all. it was ridiculous.

hookyarnandblanket · Jan 15, 2016

I do not understand how it is so difficult for some nurses to give the q4 dilaudid right on the dot, it is their freaking job! I do understand that every now and again emergencies happen and a nurse may not be able to get to it right away but if this is happening often it is because the nurses suck. Some nurses are just lazy or rude and think they are little gods whose job it is to decide who is worthy of getting their SCHEDULED medications on time. It is the nurses JOB to get the pain medication to the patient on time and it appears that the nurses you work with are not doing their jobs.

Sarcasm rarely translates well in written form anymore, but I would give it a C+ for effort.

To the OP, you are a more patient person than I. On the few occasions I have had to sit with patients, I quickly learned that I am not cut out for it. Granted, the ones with whom I've sat were dementia patients, I still cannot deal with clock watchers.

When family comes in and makes a scene, is there a facility policy about causing a disruption on the floor or in a patient's room? If there is, I would have security on speed dial and be calling the minute things got out of hand. Patients have a right to a peaceful, calm environment; meddling family is certainly not helping. Something as simple as, "Mr. X needs his rest now. Doctor doesn't want him getting excessive stressed. Please come back at another time when Mr. X is feeling better," might sooth the situation if it hasn't escalated to something too threatening.

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · Jan 15, 2016

There is a reason these patients require a sitter and unfortunately as the sitter you are the one that gets the grief. It must take the patience of a saint to do that job! Unfortunately I can't think of anything that would help beyond what I am sure you are already doing. Because really all you can do is tell them they can talk to the doctor if they are not getting adequate pain relief.