1st med pass did not go so well...

Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN · May 28, 2009

Breathe. Relax. Focus. Work Effieciently. Don't forget the 6 rights. They call it DTRAMP backwards at school (PMARTD).. Right patient, Right med, Right amount Right route , Right time, documentation and allergies.

malenurse56 · Jun 4, 2009

I know how your feeling, one patient can seem like an impossible task to accomplish when you are a student. Just relax, it get alot easier. I can remember trying to pass meds in my clinicals and feeling like I would never learn how to do it. I have been out of school for 2 months and I now on day shift at a nursing home I pass roughly 350 meds in an 8 hour shift, plus prn pain drugs, along with 5 neb treatments, 10-14 insulin injections, 10-14 accucheks, 5 dressing changes, 1 resident with a feeding tube, chart for 28 residents, order meds, call doctors, and just hope and pray no one falls, codes or dies because then I really get busy. There are mandatory breaks required and lunch to fit in. Don't worry to much, it gets easier the more you do it. Just remember the "rights" to M.A. and keep working hard. One of my instructors told me on the last day of clinicals that she intentionally tries to fluster students to see how they react. You may not feel like it helps now, but when you get out there and start doing it for real you will understand why she pushed you the way she did.

ZanatuBelmont · Jun 4, 2009

Well I did my first med pass yesterday. I was so nervous! my teacher guided me through everything and then expected me to do it my self with out missing any. I was having trouble at first understanding were the times were and what to look for. It took me about two hours but I finally was giving the meds correctly.I felt super rushed. My teacher was rushing me so I did not get a chance to look at the picture of the client. So I went in the room to ask what her name was. My teacher spoke to me telling me that I am not safe but I was not going to give the med anyway.I just feel like I did such a horrible job yesterday and I did not know if anyone has similar experiences or any advise for my next med pass.
any advise would be appriciated

First, I congratulate your humility. You will be an excellent nurse!

Second, take this as a learning experience. I have no idea what semester you are in, but our programs are learning processes. Since it was your first med pass, don't feel too alarmed. What helped me often was going through the scenario in my head before entering the room. I would visualize exactly how I "planned" to do my med pass, from introduction all the way to providing the patient with gauze to promote clotting of the puncture.

Personal experience on my first med pass: I did follow my five rights, but I came unprepared. I left my MAR at the nurses station and failed to tell my client what I was going to give him and the common side effects he/she may or may not experience. To top that off, there were four family members present, so I was under an added amount of pressure to then communicate with family. To make matters worse, the client's sister was a nurse, and she was quick to hound me. "You did not do this, you did not do that - you know, I just made a med error a week ago because I did not have my MAR with me. Why are you doing this if you don't know what you are giving?"

The sister was correct, and from that point on, I always went in a room prepared. Playing the "scene" in my head also helped, too, because at least I could appear somewhat competent! :-)

You will do fine. Practice, practice, practice!

allnurses Guide · Jun 4, 2009

[QUOTE=dajulieness;3651728]Breathe. Relax. Focus. Work Effieciently. Don't forget the 6 rights. They call it DTRAMP backwards at school (PMARTD).. Right patient, Right med, Right amount Right route , Right time, documentation and allergies.

That's good advice, there. Don't let anyone distract you while you are doing your meds. Even if the Dean of the Nursing School is trying to rush you:) You might think of something ahead of time that you could say, that is polite but firm, that you understand that time is limited, but it more important to be accurate than it is to be fast.

Every time I've had a near miss, and it STILL happens at times, it's because I have allowed someone to break my stream of thought and then have to mentally regroup. I want to kick myself when it happens

Best wishes in NS!

borntobanurse3 · Jun 4, 2009

Thanks everyone for the great advise!! It really helps to know there are others who have felt the same way at one point.