Time Frame for Med Administration

[Unknown member]

Hi,

In school, we learned that meds can be given within an hour of the designated time frame. In other words, if a med is due at 2100, it can be given between 2030-2130. Here on AN, I've noticed others saying that they combine 2000 & 2200 meds and give them at 2100 as to save time and let patients sleep. I understand that it really depends on the medication, but generally is this acceptable in the real world of nursing?...because in school, it was not. I start my first job soon and it's night shift. I want to allow my patients uninterrupted sleep but I've never seen nurses giving meds an hour late and an hour early (well, purposely. of course meds are given late all the time due to other circumstances!). Any thoughts?

[nursej22, MSN, RN]

P&P never had to give 15 pills (one at a time), 3 injections, and an inhaler to 1 of 5 patients who needed to use the restroom just as you got all the meds scanned in. And then needed a pain pill after helping her change her brief and get back into bed.

One patient=30 minutes, and hope none one else needs to potty, ED doesn't call report, the blood is not ready for transfusion yet, and why or why aren't the lab results back yet on that K+? And now granddaughter-in-law who is an MA would like to know what's really going on with granny, and when is the doctor coming in?

[redhead_NURSE98!, ADN, BSN]

I know what "within an hour" means...thanks... I used it incorrectly but didn't need a whole 2 paragraph explanation. In school, we were told A HALF HOUR before or a HALF HOUR after. Not "within an hour"...my apologies.

ANYWAY, thanks everyone for the replies! makes sense, I just wanted to clarify because this was drilled into our heads in school. If I didn't give an 8am med by 830am it was late.

Golly, I'm really sorry that GrnTea made you have to read all that due to your misstatement! How will you ever get over the heartache of having to read two additional paragraphs?

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

Whoever makes these rules is not actually living by them. They just make rules for the rest of us to follow. This justifies their employment. No one really cares about patients any more and, most assuredly, no one cares about nurses. Our necks are always in the noose and the trap door is about to be sprung.

[eatmysoxRN, ASN, RN]

If they expect all my meds to be given in an actual hour time frame, they'll have to either give me less patients or clone me. Oh man, management would love that... Pay 1 salary since me and my 4 clones would be the same. Lol.

Oh, and it's the hour on either side at my facility too. Abd if it's late/early, we have plenty of reasons to choose from. Most common is : time restraints

[Unknown member]

Golly, I'm really sorry that GrnTea made you have to read all that due to your misstatement! How will you ever get over the heartache of having to read two additional paragraphs?

Why take the time to comment if you're just going to be rude? Very unnecessary.

Please close this thread, as I didn't come here to be spoken down to, rather seeking advice from my soon-to-be fellow nurses. Thanks everyone who shared intelligent answers.

[Merlyn]

In LTC I always combined 2000and 2200 until a supervisor showed me that if you gave all the meds on time you finished work early.

[caliotter3]

Anywhere I have worked at I've been able to give meds within an hour either way. So 9:00 meds can be given as early as 8:00 or as late as 10:00 and still considered on time. Of course it depends on the medication, especially if it is time sensitive such as certain antibiotics (like vancomycin).

This was the policy I liked when I had up to 80 residents to be responsible for.

[redhead_NURSE98!, ADN, BSN]

Why take the time to comment if you're just going to be rude? Very unnecessary.

I agree!! Thus my comment. Please don't act like what you said to GrnTea wasn't meant to be smart alecky. You don't get to dictate the manner in which advice is given to you when you ask for advice. If you want someone to just tell you what you want to hear, ask your mother.